n. [ OE. feire, OF. feire, F. foire, fr. L. fariae, pl., days of rest, holidays, festivals, akin to festus festal. See Feast. ] 1. A gathering of buyers and sellers, assembled at a particular place with their merchandise at a stated or regular season, or by special appointment, for trade. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A festival, and sale of fancy articles. erc., usually for some charitable object; as, a Grand Army fair; a church fair. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A competitive exhibition of wares, farm products, etc., not primarily for purposes of sale; as, the Mechanics' fair; an agricultural fair. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. an exhibition by a number of organizations, including governmental organizations, for the purpose of acquainting people with such organizations or their members, not primarily for commercial purposes; as, the 1939 World's Fair. [ PJC ]

Meet me in St. Louis, Louis
Meet me at the fair
Don't tell me the lights are shining
Anyplace but there. Song (1904: words by Andrew B. Sterling, music by Kerry Mills, popularized by Billy Murray. Prominent in the movie "Meet Me In St. Louis", 1944) [ PJC ]

After the fair, Too late. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To make fair or beautiful. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Fairing the foul. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Shipbuilding) To make smooth and flowing, as a vessel's lines. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Fairer superl. Fairest. ] [ OE. fair, fayer, fager, AS. fæger; akin to OS. & OHG. fagar, Icel. fagr, Sw. fager, Dan. faver, Goth. fagrs fit, also to E. fay, G. fügen, to fit. fegen to sweep, cleanse, and prob. also to E. fang, peace, pact, Cf. Fang, Fain, Fay to fit. ] 1. Free from spots, specks, dirt, or imperfection; unblemished; clean; pure. [ 1913 Webster ]

A fair white linen cloth. Book of Common Prayer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pleasing to the eye; handsome; beautiful. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who can not see many a fair French city, for one fair French made. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Without a dark hue; light; clear; as, a fair skin. [ 1913 Webster ]

The northern people large and fair-complexioned. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; favorable; -- said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.; as, a fair sky; a fair day. [ 1913 Webster ]

You wish fair winds may waft him over. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Free from obstacles or hindrances; unobstructed; unincumbered; open; direct; -- said of a road, passage, etc.; as, a fair mark; in fair sight; a fair view. [ 1913 Webster ]

The caliphs obtained a mighty empire, which was in a fair way to have enlarged. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Shipbuilding) Without sudden change of direction or curvature; smooth; flowing; -- said of the figure of a vessel, and of surfaces, water lines, and other lines. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Characterized by frankness, honesty, impartiality, or candor; open; upright; free from suspicion or bias; equitable; just; -- said of persons, character, or conduct; as, a fair man; fair dealing; a fair statement. “I would call it fair play.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Pleasing; favorable; inspiring hope and confidence; -- said of words, promises, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

When fair words and good counsel will not prevail on us, we must be frighted into our duty. L' Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. Distinct; legible; as, fair handwriting. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. Free from any marked characteristic; average; middling; as, a fair specimen. [ 1913 Webster ]

The news is very fair and good, my lord. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fair ball. (Baseball) (a) A ball passing over the home base at the height called for by the batsman, and delivered by the pitcher while wholly within the lines of his position and facing the batsman. (b) A batted ball that falls inside the foul lines; -- called also a fair hit. --
Fair maid. (Zool.) (a) The European pilchard (Clupea pilchardus) when dried. (b) The southern scup (Stenotomus Gardeni). [ Virginia ] --
Fair one, a handsome woman; a beauty, --
Fair play, equitable or impartial treatment; a fair or equal chance; justice. --
From fair to middling, passable; tolerable. [ Colloq. ] --
The fair sex, the female sex.

Syn. -- Candid; open; frank; ingenuous; clear; honest; equitable; impartial; reasonable. See Candid. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Clearly; openly; frankly; civilly; honestly; favorably; auspiciously; agreeably. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fair and square, justly; honestly; equitably; impartially. [ Colloq. ] --
To bid fair. See under Bid. --
To speak fair, to address with courtesy and frankness. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Fairness, beauty. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fair woman; a sweetheart. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have found out a gift for my fair. Shenstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Good fortune; good luck. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now fair befall thee ! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fair, anything beautiful; women, collectively. “For slander's mark was ever yet the fair.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. justly; honestly; equitably; impartially. Opposite of unfairly. [ Colloq. ] [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

adj. fair and honest; just. Opposite of unfair. [ Colloq. ]
Syn. -- honest. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

. (Football) A catch made by a player on side who makes a prescribed signal that he will not attempt to advance the ball when caught. He must not then be interfered with. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. an open area for holding fairs or exhibitions or circuses. Often used in plural. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. pl. same as fairground. [ PJC ]