fard

Definition

To paint, as the cheeks or face.

Etymology

The verb is derived from Middle English farden (“to apply cosmetics”) or Middle French farder, from Old French farder (“to make up or paint the face; to disguise; to represent in a false light”), from Frankish *farwidōn (“to colour, dye”), from Proto-Germanic *farwiþōną (“to colour”), from *farwō (“colour”), from Proto-Indo-European *perḱ- (“coloured; motley”). The word is cognate with Icelandic farða, Latin pulcher (“beautiful”), Old High German farwjan (“to colour”) (modern German Farbe (“colour”)), Middle Low German varwe (“colour”) (Low German Farwe (“colour”)), Welsh erch (“dark brown”). The noun derived is from French fard (“cosmetics, make-up”), from Old French fart (“cosmetics, make-up”) (masculine) (farde (feminine)); further etymology is uncertain, but a possible derivation is from Old High German gifarwit (“coloured, painted”), past participle of farwjan (“to colour”), from Proto-West Germanic *faru (related to the verb).

Example Sentences

• "The fairest are but farded like the face of Jezebel […]"
• "Some of the 177 affiliates to the Manhattan-based Rush Limbaugh program complained last Wednesday when the cantankerous national talk show host said he endorsed the efforts of a fellow talk host in Atlanta who called for an end to women "farding in their cars." Limbaugh, who is heard locally on WNTR-AM (1050), told listeners that "farding on the highway is very dangerous as well as offensive to others." Not until Thursday did Limbaugh provide listeners with the meaning of the word "fard," which is to paint with cosmetics."
• "For looke how far fellonie may glory in her fetters, so far may we in our funerals wherewith we but feard death. For as some Gentiles, where gold is vernaculous and plentifull, their catiues thogh therewith enchained, yet remaines catiues: so to vs, thogh our graue were of enamelled gold, yet it is but our graue, the monument of our common misery, that by diuine mercy onely may be remedied without farther meanes."