Forms: 1 fær, faru (inflected fare), 3–4 far, 4–5, 8 fair, 4–6 fayr(e, 5–6 faire, (6 faier, 4, 8 phare), 2– fare. [Orig. two words, both f. root of FARE v.: OE. fær str. neut. = OHG. and ON. far:—OTeut. *faro(m, and OE. faru str. fem. = OFris. fare, MHG. var, ON. fǫr:—OTeut. *farâ.]
I. † 1. A going, journeying; course, passage, way; voyage. Obs.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke ii. 44. Anes dæȝes fær.
c. 1005. Byrhtferth’s Handboc, in Anglia, VIII. 305. Hyt byð ȝeradlic þæt we ascrutnion his fare.
1154. O. E. Chron., an. 1120. And on þam fare wurdon adrincene þæs cynges twegen sunan Willelm and Ricard.
c. 1200. Vices & Virtues (1888), 137. Ðare muchele burȝh ðe ȝelaste ðrie daiȝes fare.
c. 1205. Lay., 4092. Suððen he turnde his fare.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 3179. Almost redi was here fare.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4754 (Cott.).
| For-qui þat flum þat rennes þar | |
| Til ioseph hus it has þe fare. |
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., C. 98. Fyndez he a fayr schyp to þe fare redy.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IV. 627. God furthir vs in-till our fair!
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2250. A Jentill man … Foloȝes þare fare ai on fote.
1557. Tottell’s Misc. (Arb.), 133.
| The flood of lyfe, the ioyfull fare, | |
| The ioyfull fare, the end of strife. |
1596. Spenser, F. Q., V. x. 16. Nought the morrow next mote stay his fare.
1613–6. W. Browne, Brit. Past. II. iii. 70.
| Here sent she up her dolphins, and they plyde | |
| So busily their fares on every side. |
1751. Chambers, Cycl., Fare, a Voyage, or Passage; or the Money paid for passing by Water, &c.
† b. An expedition. Herring-fare: a voyage to catch herrings. Obs.
a. 1000. Cædmon’s Exod., 554 (Gr.). Fullesta mæst, se ðas fare lædeþ.
1154. O. E. Chron., an. 1128. Se firste fare was on Urbanes dæi.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 141. After þis phare was pees in Scythia.
1530. Palsgr., 825/1. A heryng fare, pescher des harenez.
† c. Equipment for a journey; rigging out (of a ship); apparel, belongings. Obs.
c. 1320. Sir Tristr., 926. Fair was his schip fare.
1393. Gower, Conf., I. 119.
| That he in all his proude fare, | |
| Unto the forest gan to fare. |
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3694. Of fethirhame & alle fare, as feetely enjoyned.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 419. Sa saw he quhair the Coilȝear come with all his fair.
2. † a. A road, track (obs.). b. spec. The track of a hare or rabbit (obs. exc. dial.). † c. A ferry (obs. rare–1; perh. merely suggested by Ger. fahr in the original).
1509. Hawes, The Pastime of Pleasure, XXXV. xxi.
| But we were glad when ye had forsaken | |
| The lowe vale, and up the craggy fayre | |
| For your advauntage the hye waye had taken. |
1610. Fletcher, Faithf. Sheph., IV. i.
| Not a Hare | |
| Can be started from his fare. |
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., xvi. 269. Coming in her course to cross the common fare.
1762. trans. Busching’s Syst. Geog., IV. 548. A fare over the Mosel and Tarforst.
1879. Shropshire Word-bk., Fare, a track, as of a rabbit.—Oswestry.
† 3. A number of persons prepared for a journey; a troop, multitude. Also, a swarm (of flies). Obs.
c. 1205. Lay., 3904. Swulc fare of fleoȝen her was. Ibid., 30666. Brien bonnede his fare.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 52. Þe emperour say, þat ys fare nas noȝt þere.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 12763 (Cott.).
| Þe Iues tiþand of him [John] hard, | |
| And of his far þat he wit fard. |
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 11069.
| Þat folowest fast on þe fare, with hor fell dynttes | |
| Dang hom to dethe, & deiret hom mekill. |
transf. 1634. W. Tirwhyt, trans. Letters of Mounsieur de Balzac, 324. I have observed among man onely a fare of flatteries, fooles and Cheaters.
4. † a. A passage or excursion for which a price is paid; hence b. Cost of conveyance (now only of persons; formerly also of goods); passage money.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VI. xviii. 226.
| And þare suld nane pay mare | |
| Þan foure pennys for þare fare. |
1514. Fitzherb., Just. Peas (1538), 194 b. These articles to be kept upon payne to forfayt treble the fare.
1535. Coverdale, Jonah i. 3. He payde his fare, and wente aborde.
1570–6. Lambarde, A Perambulation of Kent (1826), 438. Making the whole fare (or passage) worth foure shillings.
c. 1620. Z. Boyd, Zion’s Flowers (1855), 8.
| As I perceive to saile they ready are, | |
| Most willingly I’le pay thereof the fare. |
1765. Foote, Commissary, I. Wks. 1795, II. 8. What’s your fare?
1767. H. Kelly, etc. The Babler, II. No. 76, 57. Think that person indeed possesses but a little share of felicity who cannot afford an hour or two’s excursion in an humble hack, or take an eighteen-penny fare in occasional sedan.
1806–7. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), IV. xxviii. Being asked by the coachman three or four times more than his fare, which he knows you must pay.
1864. Skeat, trans. Uhland’s Poems, 49.
| Boatman, come, thy fare receive, | |
| Thrice thy fare I gladly give, | |
| For, unknown, unseen by thee, | |
| Spirits twain have crossed with me. |
5. The passenger, or (now rarely) company of passengers, that engages a vehicle plying for hire.
[Presumably transf. from 4 b; certainly so apprehended in present use.]
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 205.
| Thy fares ouer the water thou shouldst row them, | |
| But vnder the water thou doost bestow them. |
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), Fearful Summer, Wks. I. 60/2.
| Those are right water-men, and rowe so well, | |
| They either land their fares in Heav’n or Hell. |
1696. Lond. Gaz., No. 3149/4. The Fare was taken up in Grivell- Street, and set down in Channel-Row.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 498, 1 Oct., ¶ 2. If I should tell you that I have seen a Hackney-Coachman, when he has come to set down his Fare, which has consisted of two or three very fine Ladies, hand them out, and salute every one of them with an Air of Familiarity, without giving the least offence, you would perhaps think me guilty of a Gasconade.
1798. Canning, etc., Loves of the Triangles, in Anti-Jacobin (1852), 124 ‘Shoot we the Bridge!’—th’ exulting Fare reply.
1823. Byron, Juan, X. lxxi.
| Not like slow Germany, wherein they muddle | |
| Along the road, as if they went to bury | |
| Their fare. |
1841. S. C. Hall, Ireland, I. 69. Elevating what serves for a whip if they think a fare is approaching.
1875. J. Saunders, The Lion in the Path, xvii. His eye fell on a small boat rowed by a single waterman, who had for his fare two persons.
b. † The ‘load’ (of an animal). Obs. Also U. S. The cargo of a vessel; a load or ‘catch’ of fish.
1600. Heywood, 1 Edw. IV., 39. Drive Dun and her faire and softly downe the hill.
1884. E. E. Hale, The Fortunes of Rachel, ii. 15. Only stopping to telegraph to his partner at Gloucester of his return, of the fare taken, and of the seamen and others rescued.
II. † 6. Mode of proceeding, bearing, demeanour; appearance, aspect. Obs.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2743. éo he adde ysywed me longe in þisse fare.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24375 (Cott.).
| Þat ai can se þair tender fare, | |
| For child þat þai ha born. |
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., B. 861. Oo! my frendeȝ so fre, your fare is to strange.
1420. The Anturs of Arther, xli. He foundes into the freke with a fresche fare.
1508. Dunbar, The Goldyn Targe, 225. On syde scho lukit wyth ane fremyt fare.
1521. St. Papers Hen. VIII., VI. 84. She wold bee gladder of peax, then she maketh fayre of.
1540. Hyrde, trans. Vives’ The Instruction of a Christen Woman. (1592), X vj. Lette the wyfe … shewe example of sober fare, and so shall she make her seruauntes the most easily to folowe the same.
† b. A proceeding, action; ‘doings’; hence, fighting. Obs.
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 1096. Þe sawe þat ȝe sente to segge of ȝoure fare.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XXI. 130. ‘Ich haue ferly of Ȟis fare · in feith,’ seyde treuth.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 7442. Furse was þe fare þo fyn men betwene.
c. 1440. York Myst., ix. 90. This fare wille I no lenger frayne.
c. 1450. Myrc, 332.
| Songe and cry and suche fare, | |
| For to stynte þow schalt not spare. |
a. 1548. Thrie Priests of Peblis, in Pinkerton, Scot. Poems, I. 38. Allace how now! this is ane haisty fair!
† c. Display, pomp; commotion, uproar, fuss.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 13211 (Cott.).
| Þai ledd his licam vte o tun, | |
| Til sebastin wit mikel far. |
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 16263.
| When Penda his perseiued, he made gret fare | |
| ffor þat Osewy was nought þare. |
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XX. 124.
| Croune his ȝoung sone and his vif | |
| At that parliament, and swa did he; | |
| With gret fair and solempnite. |
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 419.
| By wawes of þe see, | |
| Þat brekeþ in þare | |
| Wiþ suche noyse and fare. |
c. 1400. Gamelyn, 199.
| Gode man seide Gamelyn whi makest þou þis fare | |
| Is ther no man that may ȝow helpen out of care. |
c. 1425. Seven Sag. (P.), 698. Baucillas, lat be thy fare.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 150/1. Fare, or boost, jactancia, arrogancia.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 149. The King profferit him to gang and maid ane strange fair.
† 7. Condition, state, welfare; state of things, prosperity, success. What fare? what is the state of things? (cf. What cheer?). Obs.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2771. For te loken hirdnesse fare.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4238 (Cott.).
| Leue we now iacob in þis care | |
| To tell of ioseph and his fare. |
1340–70. Alex. & Dind., 150. For miche wilnede þe weiȝht · to witen of here fare.
c. 1375. Cato Major, II. xvii., in Anglia, VII.
| Of oþer mennes euel fare, | |
| Envye makeþ him gleo. |
c. 1400–50. Alexander, 2019. Fra þat I fraist haue þat faire of my faire lady. Ibid., 3257. Þi wale gode … fully feld alle þe fare þat falle suld on erthe.
14[?]. in Tundale’s Vis. (1843), 77.
| And he askede hur of hur fare | |
| Ho sayde ho was in mycull care. |
1549. Latimer, 4th Serm. bef. Edw. VI. (Arb.), 118. He knoweth hys fare by thys—he is eyther in joye or in payne.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. i. 95. Warwick. How now faire Lords? What faire? What newes abroad?
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XV. 214.
| Add thy care, | |
| (O Phœbus! far off-shooting god) that this so sickly fare | |
| Of famous Hector be recur’d. |
8. Food, regarded with reference to its quality; supply or provision of food, regarded as abundant or scanty. † To make a fare: ? to provide plentifully (cf. 6 c). Bill of fare: see BILL 10.
c. 1205. Lay., 10236. Her wes unimete fare a þissere folc riche.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 537. He made a fare on þat fest, for þe frekez sake.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVI. 46. He maid thame mekill fest and far.
c. 1475. Rauf Coilȝear, 112. Heir is bot hamelie fair.
1531. Elyot, The Boke Named the Gouernour, III. xxii. Surely lyke as the excesse of fare is to be iustely reproued, so in a noble man moch pinchyng and nygard shyp of meate and drynke is to be discommended.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Jan., 44. Whose knees are weake, through fast and euill fare.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 1028.
| But come, so well refresh’d, now let us play, | |
| As meet is, after such delicious fare. |
1730–46. Thomson, Autumn, 191.
| Like the gay birds that sung them to repose, | |
| Conent, and careless of to-morrow’s fare. |
1774. Pennant, Tour Scotl. in 1772, 212. A boat filled with women and children crosses over from Jura, to collect their daily wretched fare, limpets and perriwinkles.
1816. Scott, Tales Landl., Ser. I., Introd. Such fare as the mountains of your own country produce.
1874. Lisle Carr, Jud. Gwynne, I. ii. 62. Such homely dainties were not ‘company fare.’
fig. a. 1592. H. Smith, Serm. (1866), II. 168. What is the fare? Joy, peace, righteousness.
1651. Davenant, Gondibert, II. I. 61. Truth we grudge her as a costly fare.
a. 1679. Gurnall, in Spurgeon, Treas. Dav. Ps. cxix. 132. This is no more than family fare, what thou promisest to do for all that love thee.
1693. Dryden, Juvenal, xiv. 389.
| But since among mankind so few there are, | |
| Who will conform to philosophic fare; | |
| Thus much I will indulge thee for thy ease, | |
| And mingle something of our times to please. |
1727. De Foe, The Protestant Monastery, iv. I shall have Neighbours Fare.
III. 9. attrib. and Comb. (sense 4 b), as fare-free adj. Also fare indicator, an instrument for registering the fares paid in a public conveyance; † fare-maker, a boaster.
1893. Daily News, 5 April, 3/3. All the world knows that he is travelling *fare free.
1892. Pall Mall G., 14 Nov., 2/3. A *fare-indicator for cabs.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 150. Fare makere, or boslowre, jactator.
