fair copyn.
/fɛː ˈkɒpi/, U.S. /ˌfɛ(ə)r ˈkɑpi/ 1. A neat, clearly legible copy of a written or printed document; spec. a transcript free from corrections. Cf. fair adj. 11e, clean adj. 3c.
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1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Ss3v Faire copies of Alphabets, & letters ioyned, without geuing any precepts or directions, for the cariage of the hand & framing of the letters. View more context for this quotation
a1638 J. Mede Wks. (1672) 878 If the Scrivener, whom I hired to write me out a fair Copy thereof, had not disappointed me, I could ere this have lent you a Copy..as good as the Authors.
1709 T. Hearne Diary 30 July in Remarks & Coll. (1886) II. 228 A fair Copy of the Statutes.
1712 H. Wanley Let. 28 Sept. (1989) 272 My Lord would be glad of a..fair Copie of their Meneion or Menology.
1782 J. Watt Let. 23 Jan. in J. P. Muirhead Origin & Progress Mech. Inventions J. Watt (1854) II. 140 I have done a good deal towards the fair copy of these drawings.
1844 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit l. 575 A fair copy of his draft of the catalogue.
1882 Ogilvie's Imperial Dict. (new ed.) at Extend To extend a deed, to make a fair copy of a deed on paper, parchment, or the like, for signature.
1924 H. L. Mencken Let. 19 Dec. in Mencken & Sara (1987) 179 She is to make one fair copy and a carbon.
1989 I. Murdoch Message to Planet (1990) vi. 513 The farewell letter had cost her several tearful drafts, but the fair copy, neat and unstained, was written in a clear hand.
2001 L. Erdrich Last Rep. Miracles at Little No Horse ix. 171 Nector let Bernadette natter on, directing him to accomplish fair copies of documents.
2. Written material transcribed or reproduced after correction; the condition of a document copied after final correction. Frequently with in.
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society > communication > writing > written text > [noun] > transcript or copy > after correction, revision
recension1793
fair copy1832
1832 Rep. Comm. Mr. Bayley's Pub. of Cal. (Record. Comm.) 17 No single sheet of Fair Copy has been produced to your Committee.
1832 London Med. & Surg. Jrnl. 22 Dec. 656/2 I..transcribed a great part of the manuscript in fair copy for the press.
1873 H. B. Tristram Land of Moab viii. 158 Our depositions were now produced in fair copy.
1915 M. Morris Coll. Wks. W. Morris p. xxx There exist trial-pieces describing Orpheus' violent death..; also a good deal of fair copy of another opening.
1987 A. Leighton Amer. Gardens of 19th Cent. p. xvii Jane Langton,..to whom I owe gratitude for all the drudgery and kindly enthusiasm of getting into fair copy one more garden book.
2002 M. C. Erler Women, Reading, & Piety in Late Medieval Eng. (2006) 74 His widow survived until 1503. Her will exists both in draft and in fair copy.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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