Obs. [f. FAWN v.1]
1. An act of fawning; a servile cringe, a wheedling courtesy.
1590. Greene, Never too Late (1600), 48. Infida … plied Francesco with her flattering fawnes.
1601. B. Jonson, Poetaster, V. i.
| Cæs. Thanks, Horace, for thy free and wholesome sharpnesse, | |
| Which pleaseth Cæsar, more than servile fawnes. |
1633. P. Fletcher, Poet. Misc., 78.
| Will rave and chide, and every passion prove, | |
| But soon to smiles and fawns turns all his heat. |
a. 1657. R. Loveday, Letters (1663), 146. I am glad to see you are so well arm’d against your Domestick Enemies, and can pull out the stings of vexation so dexterously: tis a Science that comprizes the whole art of living happily; and he that has perfectly learn’d it is rich in despite of the frowns, and without an obligation to the fawnes of Fortune.
1744. E. Haywood, The Female Spectator (1746), I. 131. You may know him by … a servile fawn on all who can any way contribute to exalting him yet higher.
2. = FAWNER. rare–1.
1635. Brathwait, Arcad. Pr., 80.
| Had he plaid Buffoun, Fawn or knave | |
| To Pandor, flatter or deceive, | |
| He had far more respected bin, | |
| Nor felt those perils he is in. |
