[f. FETCH v. + -ING2.]
† 1. That contrives, plans, schemes; crafty, designing. Obs.
1581. Pettie, Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., II. (1586), 97 b. Such fetching heads … consume themselves in a manner awaie, in devising new kindes of extortion.
1583. Foxe, A. & M. (ed. 4), 575/1. What cannot the fetchyng practise of the Romish Prelates bring about?
2. Alluring, fascinating, pleasing, ‘taking.’
1880. Mrs. Forrester, Roy & Viola, I. 284. There is nothing in the world so fetching as a beautiful voice?
1881. Miss Braddon, Asph., III. v. 127. ‘What a fetching get-up,’ said Edgar, who was apt to embellish his speech with those flowers of slang which are in everybody’s mouth.
1891. Athenæum, 21 Nov., 685/2. The imitation from Wordsworth is particularly ‘fetching.’
Hence Fetchingly adv.
1889. Cath. News, 3 Aug., 5/1. She was fetchingly attired.
