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.