Ferriferous, fer-rif′ėr-us, adj. bearing or yielding iron. [L. ferrum, iron, ferre, to bear.]
Ferruginous, fer-rōō′jin-us, adj. of the colour of iron-rust impregnated with iron.—n. Ferru′go, a disease of plants, commonly called rust. [L. ferrugineus—ferrugo, -inem, iron-rust—ferrum, iron.]
Ferrule, fer′il, or fer′ōōl, n. a metal ring or cap on a staff, &c., to keep it from splitting.—Also Ferr′el. [O. Fr. virole—L. viriola, a bracelet.]
Ferry, fer′i, v.t. to carry or convey over a water in a boat:—pr.p. ferr′ying; pa.p. ferr′ied.—n. a place where one is carried by boat across a water: the right of conveying passengers: the ferry-boat.—ns. Ferr′iage, provision for ferrying: the fare paid for such; Ferr′y-boat; Ferr′y-man. [A.S. ferian, to convey, faran, to go; Ger. fähre, a ferry—fahren, to go, to carry.]
Fertile, fėr′til, adj. able to bear or produce abundantly: rich in resources: inventive: fertilising.—adv. Fer′tilely.—n. Fertilisā′tion, the act or process of fertilising.—v.t. Fer′tilise, to make fertile or fruitful: to enrich.—ns. Fer′tiliser, one who, or that which, fertilises; Fertil′ity, fruitfulness: richness: abundance. [Fr.,—L. fertilis—ferre, to bear.]
Ferule, fer′ōōl, n. a cane or rod used for striking children in punishment.—n. Fer′ula, a staff of command.—adj. Ferulā′ceous, pertaining to canes or reeds. [L. ferula, a cane—ferīre, to strike.]
Fervent, fėr′vent, adj. ardent: zealous: warm in feeling.—n. Fer′vency, eagerness: warmth of devotion.—adv. Fer′vently.—adjs. Ferves′cent, growing hot; Fer′vid, very hot: having burning desire or emotion: zealous.—n. Fervid′ity.—adv. Fer′vidly.—ns. Fer′vidness; Fer′vour, heat: heat of mind, zeal. [Fr.,—L. fervēre, to boil.]
Fescennine, fes′e-nin, adj. scurrilous.—Fescennine verses consisted of dialogues in rude extempore verses, generally in Saturnian measure, in which the parties rallied and ridiculed one another. The style, afterwards popular at Rome, originated in the Etruscan town Fescennium.
Fescue, fes′kū, n. a genus of grasses, very nearly allied to Brome-grass, and including many valuable pasture and fodder grasses: a small straw or wire used to point out letters to children when learning to read. [O. Fr. festu—L. festūca, a straw.]
Fesse, Fess, fes, n. (her.) one of the ordinaries—a band over the middle of an escutcheon, one-third its breadth. [Fr. fasce—L. fascia, a band.]