Fanny (Lord). So John Lord Hervey was usually called by the wits of the time, in consequence of his effeminate habits. His appearance was that of a “half-wit, half-fool, half-man, half-beau.” He used rouge, drank ass’s milk, and took Scotch pills (1694-1743).
Consult Lord Fanny, and confide in Curll [publisher]. Byron, English Bards and Scotch Reviewers (1809).
Fanny (Miss), younger daughter of Mr. Sterling, a rich City merchant. She was clandestinely married to Lovewell. “Gentle-looking, soft-speaking, sweet-smiling, and affable,” wanting “nothing but a crook in her hand and a lamb under her arm to be a perfect picture of innocence and simplicity.” Every one loved her, and as her marriage was a secret, Sir John Melvil and Lord Ogleby both proposed to her. Her marriage with Lovewell being ultimately made known, her dilemma was removed.—Colman and Garrick, The Clandestine Marriage (1766).
Fan´teries (3 syl.), foot-soldiers, infantry.
Five other bandes of English fanteries. G. Gascoigne, 1535-1577, The Fruites of Warre (1575)
Fantine. Parisian girl, deserted by her lover and left to support her child as best she can. Her heroic self-devotion is one of the most interesting episodes of Les Miserables, a romance by Victor Hugo.
Faquir´, a religious anchorite, whose life is spent in the severest austerities and mortification.
He diverted himself, however ... especially with the Brahmins, faquirs, and other enthusiasts who had travelled from the heart of India, and halted on their way with the emir.—W. Beckford, Vathek (1786).
Farçeur (The), Angelo Beolco, the Italian farce-writer. Called Ruzzante in Italian, from ruzzare, “to play the fool” (1502-1542).
Farina´ta [Degli Uberti], a noble Florentine, leader of the Ghibeline faction, and driven from his country in 1250 by the Guelfs (1 syl.). Some ten years later by the aid of Manfred of Naples, he beat the Guelfs, and took all the towns of Tuscany and Florence. Danté conversed with him in the city of Dis, and represents him as lying in a fiery tomb yet open, and not to be closed till the last judgment day. When the council agreed to raze Florence to the ground, Farinata opposed the measure, and saved the city. Dantê refers to this: