fairnessn.
/ˈfɛːnəs/, U.S. /ˈfɛrnəs/ 1. † b. A beautiful thing, feature, or ornament. Obsolete.
a. Beauty; attractiveness. Now somewhat archaic and literary.
(a) As an abstract quality. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [noun] > abstractly
fairnesseOE
eOE (Mercian) Vespasian Psalter (1965) xcv. 6 Confessio et pulchritudo in conspectu eius : ondetnis & fegeirnis [perh. read fegernis] in gesihðe his.
OE Vercelli Homilies (1992) xxii. 377 Ða welan forwyrðað & ðæt wuldor forwyrð & sio fægernes forwisnað.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 12253 Off hæle. off faȝȝerrnesse. Off strenncþe.
c1390 W. Hilton Mixed Life (Vernon) in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1895) I. 288 Þere [sc. Heaven] is souereyne fairnes, liȝtnes, strengþe [etc.].
c1450 (c1385) G. Chaucer Complaint of Mars (Fairf. 16) (1871) l. 76 This worthi Mars..the flour of feyrenesse lappeth in his armes And Venus kysseth Mars.
1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 177 Beholdynge in hym all fayreness, all power, and all verteu.
1611 R. Chester Ann. Great Brit. 175 Nature long time hath stor'd vp vertue, fairenesse, Shaping the rest as foiles vnto this Rarenesse.
1856 J. Ruskin Mod. Painters III. 261 For all fairness we have to seek to the flowers.
1912 Living Age 13 Apr. 125/2 Who is to decide in a question of ‘fairness’?.. Glamor, for all their definitions, is indefinable.
(b) As an attribute of a person, part of the body, or occasionally an animal.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [noun] > specifically of humans
fairnessOE
beautya1350
looksc1400
pertnessc1450
well-favouredness1545
thews1567
good looks1591
bonniness1603
good-lookingness1828
OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Corpus Oxf.) v. xvii. 450 Wæs he on iuguþe mon willsumlicre yldo & fægernesse [L. uenustatis].
OE tr. Apollonius of Tyre (1958) i. 2 Þises cyninges cwen wearð of life gewiten, be ðare he hæfde ane swiðe wlitige dohter ungelifedlicre fægernesse [L. pulchritudine].
c1200 (?OE) Grave (1890) l. 24 For sone bið þin hæfet faxes bireued; Al bið ðes faxes feirnes forsceden.
a1225 MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 77 (MED) Sunne and mone þostreþ for his fairnesse.
a1275 St. Margaret (Trin. Cambr.) (1866) 35 For ir feirnesse, þan ho bee comen of þrelle.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1233 Wantede ðit child faiernesse and migt.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 285 A woman..wedded a bocher for his fairenesse.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xii. l. 47 (MED) Felyce hir fayrnesse fel hir al to sklaundre.
c1450 tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Lyfe Manhode (Cambr.) (1869) 4 J seygh a lady in my wey of hire fairnesse she dide me ioye.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection ii. sig. Riv In the whiche synne they fall commonly by the reason of their..fayrenes.
1584 King James VI & I Ess. Prentise Poesie sig. M.ij Be warre ze descryue zour Loues makdome, or her fairnes.
1608 D. Tuvill Ess. Politicke, & Morall f. 48 The beautie and fairenesse of his eyes.
1637 S. Rutherford Let. in Joshua Redivivus (1664) 304 A through & clear sight of the beauty of Jesus my Lord: Let my eyes enjoy his fairness & store him for ever in the face.
1654 J. Trapp Comm. Minor Prophets (Micah i. 11) 339 Her fairnesse shall be exposed to ignominy and nakednesse.
1757 Lett. from Armenian in Ireland xvii. 76 She be of equal Fairness, she is more lovely than all the Daughters of Ghilan.
1788 J. Lemprière Bibliotheca Classica at Hymĕnæus His youth, and the fairness of his features, favored his disguise.
1820 J. Keats Hyperion: a Fragm. iii, in Lamia & Other Poems 198 The immortal fairness of his limbs.
1878 J. Grant Lord Hermitage v. 53 She grew to girlhood, rare in the fairness of her beauty.
1918 C. Harris Making her his Wife 38 If any woman is left alone with a mirror,..no matter how young and confident she should be by her fairness and beauty, she will seek a certain confirmation.
2003 T. Medeiros One Night of Scandal 62 Given your fairness of face, I'm sure you'll have no lack of suitors.
(c) As an attribute of a thing or place.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [noun]
wlitec825
faireOE
fairnessOE
fairlecc1225
fairheadc1300
fairshipc1300
forma1382
clearnessa1400
beautyc1405
delicacya1450
pulchritudea1460
speciositya1470
lovelinessa1500
beautifulnessc1500
formosityc1500
fairhood?1503
bewtynes?c1510
decorea1513
venusty1559
decorum1604
bellitude1623
beauteousnessa1631
loveliheada1637
decor1656
luculency1656
Venus1657
coquetry1794
beautyhood1832
glamour1840
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxvi. 389 Sume hi gelyfdon on þære sunnan, sume on þam monan,..cwædon þæt hi for heora fægernysse godas wæron.
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 112 Þa cwæð Iulianus to þam cwellere þus, Hwær is nu seo fægernys þines gefrætowodan temples?
lOE tr. Honorius Augustodunensis Elucidarium in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 143 For þære fægere wifmanna lufen heo sculen drigen brynstanes stænc on helle, & for þære scrude fægernysse [L. pro vestium nitore], heo byð bewæfde mid tale & mid scande.
c1350 Psalter (BL Add. 17376) in K. D. Bülbring Earliest Compl. Eng. Prose Psalter (1891) xlix. 12 Þe fairnes of þe felde is wyþ me.
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 7024 Hym was shewed a paleys,..Myȝte no..tunge telle þe feyrnesse.
?c1510 tr. Newe Landes & People founde by Kynge of Portyngale sig. Aiiv All with feders bounden for there bewtynes & fayrenes.
1583 C. Hollyband Campo di Fior 305 I am not of opinion that any place can be found like to this in fairenesse.
1605 R. Treswell Relation Journey Earle of Nottingham 27 His Lordship hauing the vnderstanding of the fairnesse of the castle there belonging to the Marquess of Astorga.
1662 C. Merrett tr. A. Neri Art of Glass lxxxvi. 135 A Violet colour of notable fairness.
1726 W. R. Chetwood Voy. & Adventures Capt. R. Boyle 9 I shew'd him the Money, and he soon knew the Piece..from the particular Fairness of it.
1841 London Sat. Jrnl. 4 Dec. 42/2 Yet need I say that the beauty and fairness of a flower is no security against the rude and chilly blast of an autumnal day.
1883 H. Pyle Merry Adventures Robin Hood 27 The prize is to be a bright golden arrow. Now I fain would have one of us win it..because of the fairness of the prize.
1987 A. Danielou Way Labyrinth xv. 247 They sang of..the fairness of flowers and birds, the radiance of nature.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > [noun] > beautiful thing or person
fairnesseOE
roseOE
beautya1425
beauteous1435
lovelyc1450
beautifulness?1574
picturea1645
formosity1652
speciosity1660
vision1823
dream1837
jewel box1846
firecracker1852
beaut1896
eOE Prose Dialogue of Solomon & Saturn II (2009) 74 His leoma he is hlutra ond beorhtra ðonne ealra heofona tungol, oððe on ealre eorðan sien goldes ond seolfres frætwednessa ond fægernessa.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. viii. xvii. 489 Þe mone is þe fairnesse of þe nyȝt.
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar ii. vii. 35 Persons of the greatest fancy, and such who are most pleased with outward fairnesses are most religious.
2. With reference to speech: the quality of being polished, elegant, or well expressed; eloquence. rare in later use.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [noun] > eloquence
fairnessOE
fair speakinga1387
well-sayingc1425
eloquencec1430
facundie1447
dog eloquence1542
eloquency1545
elocution1593
dulciloquy1623
suaviloquencea1649
suaviloquy1658
articulacy1915
OE Ælfric Gram. (St. John's Oxf.) 294 Sum þæra dæla is metaplasmvs, þæt is awend spræc to oðrum hiwe hwilon for fægernysse, hwilon for neode.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Gen. xlix. 21 Neptalim þe hert sent out: & ȝeuing þe speches of feyrnes.
a1500 Promptorium Parvulorum (King's Cambr.) 146 Fayirnesse of speche, facundia.
1852 Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star 15 Mar. 87/2 They shall look upon the surface of society, and be deceived by its courtesy and fairness of speech.
1931 E. N. Stone tr. A. Graf Story of Devil iv. 68 With great humility and fairness of speech, she would beg the holy man for shelter and protection.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [noun]
manshipOE
metheOE
courtesy?c1225
debonairty?c1225
gentrice?c1225
debonairshipa1240
hendlaika1250
fairnessc1275
hendiness?a1300
hendshipc1300
meeknessc1300
bonairty1303
bonairnessc1375
debonairness1382
humanityc1384
menskinga1400
hendnessc1400
comity1542
civilness1556
civility1561
courtshipa1640
discretion1752
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 1634 Me vnder-fenge þene king mid mochele feirnusse.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 1745 Feyne all with fairnes & fayne at þou may.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > kindness > gentleness or mildness > gentle or mild [phrase] > by gentle means
with fairnessa1398
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xv. xii. 731 It is nouȝt semely to ouercome wymmen with swerde and with wodenesse but raþer with fayrenesse and wiþ loue.
c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 521 To drawen folk to heuene, wt fairnesse By good ensample.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 537 Other with fayrenes othir with fowlnes I shall brynge hym to thys courte.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 331 The king..will prouyde some remedy for us, eyther by fayrenesse or otherwise.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 150 Nathir [were they] evir subduet..be fairnes ather be foulnes.
5. With reference to the weather: the state or condition of being free from rain, wind, etc.; pleasantness, fineness. In early use also with reference to the sun: †brightness, brilliance (obsolete). Now somewhat archaic and literary.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > sun > [noun] > with reference to brightness or clearness
sunOE
fairnessa1400
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > fine weather > [noun] > condition of
fairness1574
brightness1656
fineness1721
high feather1878
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) l. 2299 (MED) Þe sunne, hys feyrnes neuer he tynes, Þogh hyt on þe muk hepe shynes.
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 146 Fayrnesse of wedur, and tyme, amenitas.
c1450 tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Lyfe Manhode (Cambr.) (1869) 187 (MED) The sunne bi fayrnesse hardeth the dunge and softeth wex or suette.
1574 J. Baret Aluearie F 34 Fairenesse of weather: quietnesse. Serénitas.
1614 G. Markham 2nd Bk. Eng. Husbandman ii. vii. 94 If you finde the weather enclined to drought and fairenesse, then you shall with all speede cut downe your Hay.
1646 H. Harflete Vox Cælorum 29 The fairnes & foulnes of the weather may be conjectured.
1743 J. Bulkeley & J. Cummins Voy. to South-seas 23 The Moon, Tides, and Fairness of Weather were more favourable to us by Night than Day.
1798 Monthly Mirror Apr. 254 The gardeners still complain that the unusual fairness of the weather has obliged them to overstock the markets.
1814 Morning Post 26 Aug. The Princess remained very low in spirits till the next day, when the fairness of the weather admitted her to pass the day on deck.
1893 Horse & Hound 25 Feb. 109 None of the hunting party thought of politics, but were almost intoxicated with..the comparative fairness of the weather.
1913 A. M. Doling Brilla xiv. 122 Walking to the door he looked out upon the fairness of the day, its gleaming, sparkling radiance.
1995 C. Ch'en tr. C. Ho in C. Huang & E. Zürcher Time & Space in Chinese Culture 354 Ch'ien Ch'i..observes the fairness of the autumn day, the clearness of the autumn evening.
6. Honesty; impartiality, equitableness, justness; fair dealing.In quot. c1450: sound judgement, good sense.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > rightness or justice > [noun]
doomc825
righteOE
evennessOE
lawc1175
righteouslaikc1175
judgementc1300
righteousheada1325
justice1340
rightfulnessa1387
justnessc1443
fairnessc1450
rightfulhoodc1475
rightheada1500
uprightness1541
righteoushood1543
rightship1793
just-mindedness1838
c1450 (c1405) Mum & Sothsegger (BL Add. 41666) (1936) l. 1556 (MED) Revle þe by reason..And falle of with fayrenes, leste fors þe assaille.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xxi. 260 It is best that we trete hym With farenes.
1649 W. Cokayne Fovnd. Freedome Vindicated 1 Whose seeming sugered words are mixed with wormwood, promising fairnesse, but viperously stinging the poore despised Army.
1722 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 628 I hope fairness and truth were in mine eye.
1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. xlvi. 171 No man..will dispute the..fairness of this construction.
1802 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 8 184 We do not doubt of the fairness of the statement.
1857 T. B. Macaulay Biogr. Ess. 150 A show of fairness was..necessary to the prosperity of the Magazine.
1922 Herald of Gospel Liberty 5 Oct. 955/3 She apportioned things with strict fairness,..a seed cooky apiece, three little gold brown ‘doughnut holes’ apiece.
1987 V. Stern Bricks of Shame (1989) vi. 101 All parties..were asked their opinions on the fairness of the prison disciplinary system.
2007 N.Y. Times Mag. 30 Sept. 128/4 (advt.) Islamic banking seeks to operate on principles based on values such as fairness and social justice.
7. Lightness in colour of complexion, skin, or hair; paleness; blondness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > skin > complexion > whiteness or fairness > [noun]
whitenessOE
whitea1250
fairness1555
blondness1872
blondism1939
1555 in R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 355v The whytenesse thereof [ivory] was..thought to represent the naturall fayrenesse of mans skynne.
1586 T. Bright Treat. Melancholie xxi. 129 Then altereth it the colour, and fairenesse is turned into morphe.
1632 P. Massinger Maid of Honour ii. ii. sig. D4v The fairenes Of your complexion, which you thinke will take me.
a1673 T. Horton 100 Select Serm. (1679) i. xlvii. 390 There is beauty void of grace, and fairness of skin without understanding of the things of God.
1759 Mod. Part Universal Hist. IV. iv. vi. 235 One Alexis..imitated the true Alexis, even to the fairness of his hair, and hesitation in his speech.
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) II. 550 Ambitious of intermarrying with Persians..on account of the fairness of their complexion.
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth ii, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. II. 63 The fairness of his skin, where it had not..been exposed.
1873 Jrnl. Anthropol. Instit. 2 155 The parts of the skin usually covered show often great fairness, even when the face and hands are very sunburnt.
1905 H. G. Wells in Fortn. Rev. 1 Apr. 761 A vast range of complexion—from blackness in Goa, to extreme fairness in Holland.
1980 J. Lees-Milne Diary 7 June in Deep Romantic Chasm (2003) 92 Fairness inherited from mother, all peaches and cream.
2012 Sunday Times (Nexis) 18 Mar. (Culture section) 52 In Sri Lanka..she remains alien, the fairness of her skin letting on to locals that ‘she must be from elsewhere’.
Phrases
in (all) fairness: in order to be fair or honest; spec. (used parenthetically) if the situation is assessed fairly or honestly. Also with to. Cf. to be fair at fair adj. and n.1 Phrases 3a(b).
ΚΠ
1690 T. Burnet Answer Late Exceptions made by Mr. Erasmus Warren vii. 26 In fairness he ought always to have consulted the last Edition and last sence of the Author, before he had censured him or his work.
1767 London Mag. June 279/2 Such a proceeding ought, however, in all fairness, to be considered only as the low gossipping of the literary world.
1839 Times 21 Feb. 4/3 When contrasted with the popularized bodies whereby they have been superseded, their general conduct must, in all fairness, entitle them to a degree of respect.
1847 W. Denison Cricketer's Compan. 1846 p. xv [Such runs] ought in fairness not to be placed on the score-paper as simple ‘byes’.
1916 D. Haig Let. 28 June in War Diaries & Lett. 1914–18 (2005) 193 Several officers have said to me that they have never known the troops in such enthusiastic spirits. We must, I think, in fairness, give a good deal of credit for this to the Parsons.
1980 R. Mayer 1937 Newark Bears xi. 145 In fairness to Gordon, much of his difficulties that year could be attributed to injuries.
2001 APC Oct. 82/2 Sony doesn't like it being called a toy, and in all fairness, it is a serious piece of mechatronic engineering.
Compounds
fairness doctrine n. (also with capital initials) U.S. Broadcasting a federal policy, in effect from 1949–87, which required licensed broadcasters to present contrasting viewpoints on controversial issues of public importance.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > American politics > [noun] > principles or policies
federalism1787
state rights1787
colonizationism1831
hunkerism1845
Reconstructionism1881
Little Americanism1898
Point Four1949
fairness doctrine1952
new frontier1961
Great Society1964
eleventh commandment1966
Nixon Doctrine1969
1952 Broadcasting/Telecasting 28 Jan. 6/1 Also re-opened in letter was ‘fairness’ doctrine of FCC. Commission said it would assure ‘equality of opportunity with respect to all speeches for or against a legally qualified candidate’.
1982 Christian Sci. Monitor (Nexis) 3 June (Midwestern ed.) 12 Repealing the fairness doctrine would harm information-poor segments of our society.
2010 B. Press Toxic Talk viii. 241 As a nation, we are more poorly served by talk radio without the Fairness Doctrine.
fairness opinion n. Business a professional opinion provided by a third party, typically an investment bank, on whether the price offered in an acquisition, merger, etc., is fair.
ΚΠ
1971 Virginia Law Rev. 61 1095 The services would include..the rendering of its formal ‘fairness opinion’ to the stockholders.
1989 Times 16 Jan. 21/4 Congressional committees are already working with the Securities and Exchange Commission to..define new standards for ‘fairness opinions’ which investment bankers write when evaluating offers.
2008 J. O'Neill Netherland (2009) 177 He's with the M-and-A crowd and every now and then puts his name to a fairness opinion.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.eOE- ante-bath
- ante-bridal
- ante-cavern
- ante-christian
- ante-church
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