Obs. Forms: α. 3 faiȝered, 3–4 faired(e, fairehed(e, (3 -hid), 3–5 fair-, fayrhed(e, 4 fairheed, fayrhed, feir(e)-, 4–6 fayrehed, (5 farhed), 6 Sc. fairheid; β. 3–4 vair-, vayrhede. [f. FAIR a. + -HEAD.] Beauty.

1

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 2666. He was ȝuð, Wið faiȝered and strengthe kuð.

2

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2515. Þe king … bihuld hire vairhede.

3

a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, Prol. In þaim is so mykill fayrhed of vnderstandynge.

4

1340.  Ayenb., 16. Liȝtbere, þe angel, vor his greate uayrhede an his greate wyt, wolde by aboue þe oþre angeles.

5

c. 1440.  Hylton, Scala Perf. (W. de W., 1494), II. xlvi. By the self lyght may the soule see ghostly ye fayrhede [1533, fairnesse] of angels.

6

1501.  Douglas, Pal. Hon., I. xxxvi.

        Her bewtie schane castand sa greit ane glance,
All fairheid it opprest baith far and neir.

7

1560.  Rolland, The Court of Venus, II. 105. Thair was the flour of fairheid.

8