A renowned philosopher was held in high regard by his driver, who listened in awe at every speech while his boss would easily answer questions about morality and ethics.
Then one day the driver approached the philosopher and asked if he was willing to switch roles for the evening"s lecture.
The philosopher agreed and, for a while, the driver handled himself remarkably well.
When it came time for questions from the guests, a woman in the back asked,
"Is the epistemological view of the universe still valid in an existentialist world?"
"That is an extremely simple question," he responded. "So simple, in fact, that even my driver could answer that, which is exactly what he will do."
—v. (fries, fried) cook or be cooked in hot fat. —n. (pl. Fries) 1 offal, usu. Eaten fried (lamb's fry).
- fried food, esp. Meat. [latin frigo]
- n.pl. Young or newly hatched fishes. [old norse, = seed]
FUG
n. Colloq. Close stuffy atmosphere. fuggy adj. [origin unknown]
FUL
comb. Form forming: 1 adjectives from a nouns, meaning full of or having qualities of (beautiful; masterful). B adjectives (direful). C verbs, meaning ‘apt to’ (forgetful).
- nouns (pl. -fuls) meaning ‘amount that fills’ (handful; spoonful).
FUN
run n. Colloq. Uncompetitive sponsored run for charity.
- —n. - lively or playful amusement.
- source of this.
- mockery, ridicule (figure of fun). —attrib. Adj. Colloq. Amusing, enjoyable (a fun thing to do). for fun (or for the fun of it) not for a serious purpose. In fun as a joke, not seriously. Make fun of (or poke fun at) ridicule, tease. [obsolete fun, fon: related to *fond]
FUR
—n. - a short fine soft animal hair. B hide with fur on it, used esp. For clothing.
- garment of or lined with fur.
- (collect.) Animals with fur.
- fur-like coating on the tongue, in a kettle, etc. —v. (-rr-) 1 (esp. As furred adj.) Line or trim with fur.
- (often foll. By up) (of a kettle etc.) Become coated with fur. make the fur fly colloq. Cause a disturbance, stir up trouble. [french from germanic]
FACE
to face adv. & adj. (also face-to-face when attrib.) (often foll. By with) facing; confronting each other.
- value n. - nominal value of money.
- superficial appearance or implication.
- —n. - front of the head from forehead to chin.
- facial expression.
- coolness, effrontery.
- surface, esp.: a the side of a mountain etc. (north face). B = *coalface. C geom. Each surface of a solid. D the façade of a building. E the dial of a clock etc.
- functional side of a tool etc.
- = *typeface.
- aspect (unacceptable face of capitalism). —v. (-cing) 1 look or be positioned towards or in a certain direction.
- be opposite.
- meet resolutely.
- confront (faces us with a problem).
- a coat the surface of (a thing). B put a facing on (a garment). face the music colloq. Take unpleasant consequences without flinching. Face up to accept bravely. Have the face be shameless enough. In face (or the face) of despite. Lose face be humiliated. On the face of it apparently. Put a bold (or brave) face on it accept difficulty etc. Cheerfully. Save face avoid humiliation. Set one's face against oppose stubbornly. To a person's face openly in a person's presence. [latin facies]
FACT
n. - thing that is known to exist or to be true.
- (usu. In pl.) Item of verified information.
- truth, reality.
- thing assumed as the basis for argument. before (or after) the fact before (or after) the committing of a crime. In (or in point of) fact 1 in reality.
- in short. [latin factum from facio do]
- of life n. Something that must be accepted.
FADE
—v. (-ding) 1 lose or cause to lose colour, light, or sound; slowly diminish.
- lose freshness or strength.
- (foll. By in, out) cinematog. Etc. Cause (a picture or sound) to appear or disappear, increase or decrease, gradually. —n. Action of fading. fade away 1 colloq. Languish, grow thin.
- die away; disappear. [french fade dull]
FAFF
v. Colloq. (often foll. By about, around) fuss, dither. [imitative]
FAIL
—v. - not succeed (failed to qualify).
- be or judge to be unsuccessful in (an examination etc.).
