Obs. Also 4 fede, 5 fadde. [Etymology unknown; the senses assigned are somewhat uncertain, and perh. the examples do not all contain the same word.]
1. Strong, doughty, brave, powerful. Also, of a thing: Great, large.
c. 1320. Sir Tristem, 153.
| Þe kniȝtes þat wer fade, | |
| Þai dede as rohand bade. | |
| Ibid., 2474 In þat forest fede | |
| Tristrem hodain gan chast. |
c. 1340. Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight, 149. He ferde as freke were fade.
a. 1400. Sir Perceval, 615.
| Ther was no mane that durste hym lett, | |
| Thofe that he ware fadde. | |
| Ibid., 1165 The childe sawe that he was fade. |
c. 1400. Rowland & O., 1420. Full fele Saraȝenes felle þay fade.
2. ? Cruel, ? hostile.
a. 1300. Cursor Mundi, 24025 (Cott.). Þe folk þat was sa fade [v. r. fad] O clai þai kest at him þe clote, And laiked wit him sitisote.
a. 1400. Sir Perceval, 1439.
| If I sle hym, or he me, | |
| That never ȝit was fade? |
