fair¹ (fâr)

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[Middle English, from Old English fæger, lovely, pleasant.]

adjective: fair·er, fair·est. 

1. Of pleasing appearance, especially because of a pure or fresh quality; comely.
2. 1. Light in color, especially blond: fair hair.
   2. Of light complexion: fair skin.
3. Free of clouds or storms; clear and sunny: fair skies.
4. Free of blemishes or stains; clean and pure: one's fair name.
5. Promising; likely: We're in a fair way to succeed.
6. 1. Having or exhibiting a disposition that is free of favoritism or bias; impartial: a fair mediator.
   2. Just to all parties; equitable: a compromise that is fair to both factions.
7. Being in accordance with relative merit or significance: She wanted to receive her fair share of the proceeds.
8. Consistent with rules, logic, or ethics: a fair tactic.
9. Moderately good; acceptable or satisfactory: gave only a fair performance of the play; in fair health.
10. Superficially true or appealing; specious: Don't trust his fair promises.
11. Lawful to hunt or attack: fair game.
12. Archaic Free of all obstacles.

adverb 

1. In a proper or legal manner: playing fair.
2. Directly; straight: a blow caught fair in the stomach.

transitive verb: faired, fair·ing, fairs. 

To join (pieces) so as to be smooth, even, or regular: faired the aircraft's wing into the fuselage.

noun 

1. Archaic A beautiful or beloved woman.
2. Obsolete Loveliness; beauty.

phrasal verbs

fair off

To become clear. Used of weather.

idioms

fair and square

Just and honest.

for fair

To the greatest or fullest extent possible: Our team was beaten for fair in that tournament.

no fair

Something contrary to the rules: That was no fair.

derivatives

faiŕness

noun

synonyms:

fair¹just¹equitable, impartial, unprejudiced, unbiased, objective, dispassionate These adjectives mean free from favoritism, self-interest, or preference in judgment. Fair is the most general: a fair referee; a fair deal. Just stresses conformity with what is legally or ethically right or proper: “a just and lasting peace” (Abraham Lincoln) Equitable implies justice dictated by reason, conscience, and a natural sense of what is fair: an equitable distribution of gifts among the children. Impartial emphasizes lack of favoritism: “the cold neutrality of an impartial judge” (Edmund Burke) Unprejudiced means without preconceived opinions or judgments: an unprejudiced evaluation of the proposal. Unbiased implies absence of a preference or partiality: gave an unbiased account of her family problems. Objective implies detachment that permits impersonal observation and judgment: an objective jury. Dispassionate means free from or unaffected by strong emotions: a dispassionate reporter.

See also: average

See also: beautiful

fair² (fâr)

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[Middle English faire, from Old French feire, from Late Latin fēria, sing. of Latin fēriae, holidays.]

noun 

1. A gathering held at a specified time and place for the buying and selling of goods; a market.
2. An exhibition, as of farm products or manufactured goods, usually accompanied by various competitions and entertainments: a state fair.
3. An exhibition intended to inform people about a product or business opportunity: a computer fair; a job fair.
4. An event, usually for the benefit of a charity or public institution, including entertainment and the sale of goods; a bazaar: a church fair.