a. Obs. Forms: α. 4–5 fetis(e, -ys(e, 5 fetyce, 6 Sc. fettis; see also FEATISH. β. 5 fet(e)ous, 6 feytous, (feat-, fetus(se), feateous, 6–7 feat(u)ous, 7 fetuous. [ME. fetys, a. OFr. fetis, feitis, faictis, f. L. factīcius: see FACTITIOUS. In 15–17th c. the ending was confused variously with the suffixes -ish, -ous, -eous, -uous, and the word seems to have been apprehended as a derivative of FEAT a., to which in later use it approximates in sense.]
1. Of persons and their limbs: Well-formed, well-proportioned, handsome.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 174. Fetyse of a fayr forme, to fote & to honde.
1340–70. Alisaunder, 188. Faire fyngeres unfolde, fetise nailes.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pard. T., 150.
| In comen tombesteres | |
| Fetis and smale. |
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 829. He was … So faire, so jolly, and so fetise.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 159/2. Fetyce, or praty, parvunculus.
1477. Marg. Paston, in Lett., No. 809, III. 215. I ham waxse so fetys that I may not be gyrte in no barre of no gyrdyl that I have.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., 23865. This king … Thre sonis had baith fettis, fair and fyne.
b. Of things: Skilfully or artistically fashioned; hence, in wider sense, elegant, handsome, becoming. Often of dress.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 157. Full fetise was hire cloke.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 532. This dore … was so fetys and so lite. Ibid., 1133. In clothyng was he ful fetys.
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 66. Wyne canels accordynge to þe tarrers, of box fetice & fyne.
1566. Drant, Horace Sat., i. 83.
| as those that teache in schooles, | |
| With buttred bread, featusse knacks | |
| will lewre the little fooles. |
1648. Herrick, Hesper., I. 126.
| Upon this fetuous board doth stand | |
| Something for shew-bread. |
2. ‘Dexterous.’
1755. in Johnson.
