Adjective. Comparative, fairer;
Superlative, fairest
Original meaning is "beautiful", "elegant", "
attractive". Derived from Old English "faeger" and Old Norse "fagr", and from proto-Germanic "fagraz" ("suitable", "fitting", "nice"). Applies to the weather as well as to physical beauty.
Since the nobility in England generally defined what beauty was, and since the nobility were pale because they were rich enough that they didn't have to work
under the sun, "fair" took on the connotation of "pale" or "bright" in color; fair-haired, fair-skinned, etc.
Through loosening of the meaning of the word, "fair" also came to mean "just", "equitable", as in "a fair trial".