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fawn

Pronunciation: /fɔːn/

The English word “fawn” has 11 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A young deer.
  2. A pale brown colour tinted with yellow, like that of a fawn.
  3. The young of an animal; a whelp.
  4. A servile cringe or bow.
  5. Base flattery.

adjective

  1. Of the fawn colour.

verb

  1. To give birth to a fawn.
  2. To show devotion or submissiveness by wagging its tail, nuzzling, licking, etc.
  3. To exhibit affection toward someone.
  4. To attempt to please someone.
  5. To seek favour by flattery and obsequious behaviour.

Etymology

From Middle English fawne, fowne, foun, from Old French faon, foon, feon, from Vulgar Latin *fētōnem, from Latin fētus (“offspring, young”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁(y)- (“to suckle, nurse”). Displaced native Old English hindċealf (literally “deer calf”). Doublet of fetus.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.