fair

Everyday

1. Fair means equal and right for everyone, following the rules. tree →
2. A fair is a big outdoor event with rides, games, animals and food. tree →
3. Fair hair or skin is light in colour. tree →
4. Fair weather is fine and dry. tree →
5. Fair can mean quite good but not great. tree →
6. Fair can also mean beautiful, used in old stories and poems. tree →

In the lessons

maths: a story setting with tickets and rides; or «fair share», meaning equal parts (divide equally); a fair test in science changes only one thing; a fair coin or dice gives each side the same chance; school: book fair, science fair; everyday life: play fair, take turns; phrases: «that's not fair», «fair and square»

Examples

• Tickets to the fair cost $6. tree →
• He rode 4 rides at the fair. tree →
• Is it fair if Tom gets 5 and Ann gets 3? tree →
• They split the candy in a fair way. tree →
• We had a fair test for our plants. tree →
• She has fair hair and blue eyes. tree →
• Our class went to the book fair. tree →
• Play fair and take turns. tree →
• "Hail, fair maiden!" says the hunter. tree →

Note

As an event: numbers are tickets and costs. As «fair share»: divide equally. Trap: none special. Homophone: «fare», the price of a bus or train ticket.

In Jewish tradition

Usually means beautiful or good-looking, not just fair in justice. In the Song of Songs it is a loving word for a beloved person.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the Song of Songs as a picture of the love between God and Israel, so "my fair one" is Israel.

Examples

• And Joseph was of beautiful form, and fair to look upon. (Torah GEN.39.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Leah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was of beautiful form and fair to look upon. (Torah GEN.29.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives, whomsoever they chose. (Torah GEN.6.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. (Writings SNG.2.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• 'Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? (Writings SNG.6.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! (Writings SNG.7.7, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

As an event: numbers are tickets and costs. As «fair share»: divide equally. Trap: none special. Homophone: «fare», the price of a bus or train ticket.