Also 6–7 fadg, fagge. [Etymology unknown: first found late in 16th c.
The various uses of the word are substantially identical with those of the older FAY v. (f:—OE. féȝan), of which, however, it can neither be a variant nor a derivative by any known process. Possibly it may have been a new type formed unconsciously on the suggestion of fay and some word ending in -dge. Cf. FADGE sb.1 The close correspondence of the senses with those of COTTON v.1 is remarkable.]
† 1. intr. Of things: To fit, suit, be suitable. Const. dat. or to. Also, to agree, fit in with (a thing); to agree, go down with (a person). Obs.
1578. Whetstone, Promos & Cass., Pt. I. V. v. In good soothe, Sir, this match fadged trim.
1599. Marston, Sco. Villanie, I. i. 172.
| How ill his shape with inward forme doth fadge, | |
| Like Aphrogenias ill-yok’d marriage! |
a. 1618. Sylvester, Epistle i. 40.
| But ill, mee seems, that Cognizance doth fadge | |
| To such a Coate. |
c. 1622. Fletcher, Love’s Cure, II. ii. These clothes will never fadge with me.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, IV. (1662), 12. The Study of the Law did not fadge well with him [Thomas Phaier].
1670. W. Simpson, Hydrol. Ess., 43. You do not … make it fadge to your purpose.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen. (1693), 708. Let men avoid what fadgeth not with their stomachs; What they hate, or fancy not, let them not follow.
1711. Brit. Apollo., IV. 2/1. Your Rhimes ne’er will Fadge With us.
† 2. Of persons: To do with, put up with (a thing); to agree, ‘hit it,’ rub on (with a person).
1592. Nashe, Strange Newes, F ij. They haue broght in a new kind of quicke fight, which your decrepite slow-moving capacitie cannot fadge with.
1601. J. Deacon & J. Walker, Spirits & Divels, 163. The Exorcist also who cast out the diuel at Magnitton (howsoeuer he faggeth with me now, concerning his first conceite of real possessions) he is very confident (in the very title of his apology) to auouch the yong man to haue been actually possessed of satan.
1604. Friar Bacon’s Prophesie, 123, in Hazl., E.P.P., IV. 272.
| Then John, and Joane, and Madge, | |
| Were call’d the merry Crew, | |
| That with no drinke coulde fadge, | |
| But where the fat they knew. |
1639. Sir J. Lenke, in Mem. Verney Fam. (1892), I. 209. Mistress ffaulkner and my lady do fadge.
1643. Milton, Of Divorce, Preface. They shall, so they be but found suitably weapon’d to the least possibility of sensuall injoyment, be made, spight of antipathy to fadge together, and combine as they may to their unspeakable wearisomnes and despaire of all sociable delight in the ordinance which God establisht to that very end.
1678. Butler, Hud., III. ii. 25.
| For when they thriv’d they never fadg’d, | |
| But only by the ears engag’d. |
† b. To be content or willing, agree, ‘make up one’s mind’ to do something. Obs.
1592. Warner, Alb. Eng., VIII. xl. (1612), 195. For it did many fadge to fight.
1644. Quarles, The Shepheards Oracles, vii.
| My rambling flocks would never fadge to stay | |
| Within my pastures. |
1655. Gurnall, Chr. in Arm., v. (1669), 20/2. If you cannot love naked truth, you will not fadge to goe naked for truth.
3. trans. † To fit (the parts of) together (obs.). Also, To fadge up: to fit up, piece together. rare. Cf. FUDGE v.
1674. N. Fairfax, A Treatise of the Bulk and Selvedge of the World, 75. The Watch thus fadg’d together and in tilter into motions round.
1863. Mrs. Whitney, Faith Gartney, iv. 28. Frocks ‘fadged up’ out of old faded breadths of her mistress’s dresses.
† 4. intr. To fit in with or suit the surroundings; hence to get on, succeed, thrive. Of an event: To come off. Often with indef. subject, It, that, this, matters, things, etc. It won’t fadge: it won’t act. Obs.
1573. G. Harvey, Letter-bk. (Camden), 142.
| Tyme and fortune master every circumstaunce: | |
| Nothing fadgith, that with them is at variaunce. |
1589. Warner, Alb. Eng., VI. xxix. (1612), 145.
| Though now, if gold but lacke in graines, | |
| The wedding fadgeth not. |
1608. Merry Devil Edmonton, in Hazl., Dodsley, X. 230. You see how matters fadge.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 173. The Aethiopian Priest first enters, (without whom, they say, the miracle will not fadge).
1639. Fuller, Holy War, V. xv. (1647), 255. Why do our English merchants bodies fadge well enough in Southern aire?
1650. R. Gentilis, trans. Malvezzi’s Considerat., 179. Either the seed doth not fadge and take root there, or it turnes to poyson.
1675. Wycherley, Country Wife, IV. iii. 45. Quack. Well, Sir, how fadges the new Design? have you not the Luck of all your Brother Projectors, to deceive only yourself at last?
1694. R. L’Estrange, Æsop’s Fables, xlii. The Fox had a Fetch in’t, and when he saw it would not Fadge.
1809. Scott, in Lockhart, Life (1839), III. 195. I shall be impatient to hear how your matters fadge.
1880. W. Cornwall Gloss., s.v. ‘That ’ull never fadge.’
† 5. Of persons: To make things fit; hence, to get on, succeed. Obs.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Mouldre, Let him that cannot fadge in one course, fall to another.
1630. J. Taylor (Water P.), The Unnatural Father, Wks. II. 136/2. But he, after some stay in Holland, saw that he could not fadge there, according to his desire and withal, suspecting that he was cheated of his land.
1789. Cowper, Letter to Lady Hesketh, 6 June. Thus we are likely to be pretty much a trio, and to have none but ourselves to depend on for our entertainment. Well, we can fadge.
6. To make one’s way; to jog along; to trudge. rare exc. dial. [Perh. a different word.]
1658. R. Franck, North. Mem. (1821), 266. From hence we fadg to Ferry-Brigs.
1855. Robinson, Whitby Gloss., s.v. ‘He goes fadging along.’
1861. G. J. Cayley, Between the Cataracts without a Dragoman, in Fraser’s Mag., Dec., 764/1. A man came fadging nimbly after me on a fresh ass.
1870. Barber, Forness Folk, 3 (Lanc. Gloss.). I … fadged away up Gamswell.
1876. C. C. Robinson, Mid-Yorksh. Gloss., s.v. ‘Thou fadges like an old horse.’
Hence Fadge sb. dial., a slow regular motion, a jog-trot. Also attrib.
1873. Harland, Swaledale Gloss., Fadge-trot, a jog-trot.
1877. Ross, etc., Holderness Gloss., Fadge, a jog-trot.
1878. in Dickinson, Cumberld. Gloss., s.v.
