adj
fey
fay
Fey (adj) means having a strange, otherworldly, or magical quality. Example: “There was something fey about the old woman's smile.”
adj
1
Having a strange, otherworldly, or magical quality.
"There was something fey about the old woman's smile."
2
Acting as if about to die, or eerily detached from ordinary concerns.
"The soldiers noticed a fey calm settle over their commander before the battle."
How to use fey
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishStrange and otherworldly, sometimes with an old sense of being marked for death.
When to use it
A fairly literary word, rarely used in everyday speech.
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Word forms
- Plural
- feys
- Third person singular
- feys
- Past tense
- feyed
- Comparative
- feyer, more fey
- Superlative
- feyest, most fey
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There was something _____ about the old woman's smile.
Etymology
From Old English fǣġe ("doomed to die"), from a Germanic root related to the word foe.
Related words
Rhymes for fey
See all rhymes for fey →Frequently asked questions
What does “fey” mean?
The word “fey” means having a strange, otherworldly, or magical quality. In plain terms, strange and otherworldly, sometimes with an old sense of being marked for death.
How do you pronounce “fey”?
“Fey” is pronounced fay (/feɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “fey” in a sentence?
Here is “fey” used in a sentence: “There was something fey about the old woman's smile.”
What is another word for “fey”?
Words with a similar meaning to “fey” include fairy.
What part of speech is “fey”?
“Fey” is an adjective.
Where does the word “fey” come from?
The word “fey” comes from Old English. From Old English fǣġe ("doomed to die"), from a Germanic root related to the word foe.
How many meanings does “fey” have?
“Fey” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having a strange, otherworldly, or magical quality.
