fay

Everyday

1. (old, poetic) A fairy: a small magical being in old stories and poems. tree →
2. (a name) Fay or Faye is a woman's first name. tree →
3. (Morgan le Fay) The name of a magical woman, an enchantress, in the stories of King Arthur. tree →

In the lessons

In fairy tales, old poems and fantasy books, a fay is a fairy; it gives the writing an old-fashioned, magical feel. In King Arthur stories, Morgan le Fay is Arthur's half-sister and a sorceress. Otherwise it is mostly met as a name. Phrases: «Morgan le Fay», «the fays of the forest».

Examples

• In the old poem, a fay danced in the moonlight. tree →
• Morgan le Fay was a powerful enchantress in the Arthur stories. tree →
• My aunt's name is Fay. tree →
• The children pretended to be fays in the woods. tree →
• The story told of a fay who granted three wishes. tree →
• Faye is spelled with an «e» in some families. tree →

Note

Old-fashioned word; in everyday English people say «fairy». As a name it takes a capital: Fay or Faye. Pronounced like «day» with an «f». Not to be confused with «fey», which means strange and dreamy.