† far-fetadj.
Obsolete.
1. = far-fetched adj. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > distance or farness > [adjective] > brought from a distance
far-fet1578
far-fetched1583
far-fetch1603
1578 J. Lyly Euphues f. 32 Farre fette and deare bought is good for Ladies.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Astrophel & Stella (1591) 7 Those far-fet helps.
a1625 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Honest Mans Fortune iii. iii, in Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Vuuuu3v/1 Your far fet viandes please not My appetite.
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd ii. 401 Others..Whose pains have earn'd the far-fet spoil. View more context for this quotation
2. = far-fetched adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > relevance or pertinence > [adjective] > irrelevant
foreigna1393
unpertinentc1400
impertinentc1450
peregrine1532
far-fet1533
exorbitant1534
unrelevant1558
stravagant1565
fremd1581
unappliable1588
misapplied1596
immaterial1598
far-fetched1607
misdevoted1623
unappertaining1645
irrelativea1657
inapposite1661
unconcerned1683
scandalous1750
uncentral1782
irrelevant1786
tangent1787
inappertinent1814
unappropriate1818
tangential1867
1533 T. More Answere Poysened Bk. iv. xiiii. f. ccxli In..his farre fet reason, neyther is his maior trew, nor his argument toucheth not the matter.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1593) iii. sig. Gg4 Therwith he told her a farre fet tale.
a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) II. 116 For Metaphors, he uses to chuse the..most far fet that he can light upon.
3. as n. (See quot. 1589) rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > figure of speech > figures of meaning > [noun] > metonymy > indirect or complex type of
metalepsis1550
far-fet1589
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xvi. 152 The figure Metalepsis, which I call the farfet, as when we had rather fetch a word a great way off then to vse one nerer hand to expresse the matter aswel & plainer.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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adj.1533