Obs. since 12th c. [OE. fæc, corresp. to OFris. fek, fak, OS. fac (MLG., Du. vak), OHG. fah (MHG. vach, mod.G. fach); the continental sense is chiefly ‘compartment,’ ‘bounded space.’ The normal mod.Eng. form would be fack.]
A definite interval in space or time; a limited distance, fixed period.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosf., Luke xxiv. 13. On þæt castel þæt wæs on fæce [L. in spatio] syxtiȝ furlanga fram hierusalem.
c. 1175. Cott. Hom., 231. Hi bi ene féce to his curt come sceolde. Ibid., 235. Eft bine fece and þes lare and laȝe swiðe acolede þurh manifeald sénne.
