† fairshipn.
Obsolete.
1. Beauty; splendour.
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
c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) (1963) l. 1568 For hafde soþe men ispeke of þan maiden..of her mochele fairsipe [c1275 Calig. of hire mucla fæira wlita].
c1390 Castle of Love (Vernon) (1967) l. 690 A castel..Ne may no mon þe feirschipe iwite.
a1450 Castle of Love (Bodl. Add.) (1967) l. 1757 The swete face of his lorde þer..In his feyreship he may him showen..Of heuyn he may ise þe wydnes, The feyrshepe and þe heynes.
2. With possessive pronoun. A mock title of respect for: a beautiful woman. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > nobility > title > title or form of address for persons of rank > [noun] > mock title
sir1362
Mas'1575
gallantship1579
elderberriness1589
excelsitude1599
bellyship1600
rascalship1605
madamship1620
muttonship1632
merchantshipa1640
minxshipa1640
prerogativeship1645
fairship1647
mayorship1648
his tallness1656
curship1663
goodyship1663
Mamamouchi1672
lowness1687
ghostship?1689
lairdship1715
grandship1747
supremacy1766
honourableship1767
beautyship1772
gravityship1772
titularity1777
lordship1800
ethereality1806
elegancy1819
king1823
accidency1830
transparency1844
1647 J. Hall Poems i. 11 How every wit Capers..to fit Words to her faireships grief.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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n.c1300