Fairy
Definitions
- The realm of faerie; enchantment, illusion.
- A mythical being of human form with magical powers, known in many sizes and descriptions, although often depicted in modern illustrations only as a small sprite with gauze-like wings, especially one that is female. Fairies are revered in some modern forms of paganism.
- An enchantress, or creature of overpowering charm.
- An attractive young woman.
- A male homosexual, especially one who is effeminate.
- An effeminate man or boy.
- A member of two species of hummingbird in the genus Heliothryx.
- A legendary Chinese immortal.
Equivalents
Examples
“"They used to say⟳ there were fairies in that hill, I must tell⟳ you!"”
“"When are we going to see⟳ this fairy?" demanded Algy. "You, personally, never. You're far too immoral. I might let⟳ the others look⟳ at her from a distance in a year or two."”
“As she took out her key she was quite unaware that three pairs of eyes were watching her with interest⟳ from across the street. [...] ‘Strewth–’e ain’t ‘arf got a fairy this time,’ remarked the husky Mr. Clegg.”
“The cripple returned the smile⟳ and stuck out his hand. Miss⟳ Lonelyhearts clasped it, and they stood this way, smiling and holding hands, until Mrs. Doyle reëntered the room. "What a sweet pair of fairies you guys are," she said. The cripple pulled his hand away and made as though to strike⟳ his wife.”
“We saw⟳ a horrible sight in the bar: a white hipster fairy had come⟳ in wearing a Hawaiian shirt and was asking the big drummer if he could sit⟳ in.”
“Wimpy names—e.g., Cecil, Clarence, and Wendell—also seem to carry⟳ homosexual overtones, because we all know⟳ that fairies are meek and wimpy, just as we know⟳ that all wimps are ‘fags’ in one sense⟳ or the other.”
CEFR level
B1
Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B1 vocabulary — intermediate level.
This word is part of the CEFR B1 vocabulary — intermediate level.
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