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".
-A fair-minded, fair-haired fair maid proved that her
heart,
mind, and soul were as fair as her
body.
-Ten dollars off of the usual price? Sounds fair.