different between ayre vs fayre

English

Etymology 1

From an unattested Norn word, from Old Norse eyrr. Compare Icelandic eyri, Norwegian øyr.

Noun

ayre (plural ayres)

1. A narrow bar of sand or gravel formed by the sea; a sandbank.

Etymology 2

Noun

ayre (plural ayres)

1. Archaic spelling of air.
   • 1856, Notes and Queries, page 425

     It is precisely to this—not destruction, but dissolution—(for dissolve is the poet's word) this melting into thin ayre, of the world itself, that Tooke maintains the word rack, i. e. reek, to be most- appropriate. And I think he was right in so doing.

Anagrams

• Arey, Ayer, Raye, Reay, Yare, aery, eyra, y'are, yare, year

Ladino

Etymology

From Old Spanish ayre, from Latin ?er, from Ancient Greek ??? (a?r).

Noun

ayre m (Latin spelling)

1. wind

Old Spanish

Etymology

From Latin ?er, from Ancient Greek ??? (a?r).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [?aj.?e]

Noun

ayre m (plural ayres)

1. air
   • c. 1250, Alfonso X, Lapidario, f.

Descendants

• Ladino: ayre
• Spanish: aire

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English fayr, feir, fager, from Old English fæ?er.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /f??(?)/
• Rhymes: -??(?)

Adjective

fayre (comparative fayrer or more fayre, superlative fayrest or most fayre)

1. (archaic) Fair, beautiful.
   • 15th century, Thomas Malory, Tale of Sir Tristram; published in Thomas Malory, Eugène Vinaver, editor, Malory: Works, London: Oxford University Press, 1971, OCLC 432570779, page 259:

     'Nay, I wyll nat so,' seyde sir Trystrames, 'for here is none that woll gyff ryghtuous jugemente. But I doute nat,' seyde sir Trystrames, 'my lady is fayrer than youres, and that woll I make good with my hondys, and who that woll sey the contrary, I woll preve hit on his hede!'

Etymology 2

From Old French foire, from Latin f?riae.

Noun

fayre (plural fayres)

1. (dated) A fair, a market.
   • 1533–1534, An Acte agaynst Forstallying & Regratying of Fyshe (25 Henry VIII, chapter 4); reprinted in The Statutes of the Realm: Printed by Command of His Majesty King George the Third, in Pursuance of an Address of the House of Commons of Great Britain. From Original Records and Authentic Manuscripts, volume III, [London]: Printed by George Eyre and Andrew Strahan, 1817, OCLC 758689339, page 440:

     WHERE AS before this tyme dyverse Actis of Parliament have byn made by the Kyngis most noble pgenitours agaynst forstallers and regratours of vytaile and other marchaundisez in markettis and fayres within this Realme of Englonde, […] Be it therfore enactid by auctorite of this psent parliament that noo maner of pson or psones of what estate degree or condicion he or they be, other then suche pson or psones as nowe be or herafter shalbe marchaunt venterers to Iselande, for the seid fysshe, […] shall bye any of the kindes of the seid fysshe at or [apon] the stone or at the seyd easte see syde or easte see costis, to sell the same fysshe agayn or any parte therof at any of the seid fayre or fayres callid Sturbrigge feyre Sancte Ives or Elye fayre; […]
2. (dated) Fare.

Usage notes

In the senses of "fair" (market) and "fare" (food and drink), fayre is still often used to lend an air of history or tradition, particularly in the United Kingdom; for example, a school's "summer fayre" or a university's "freshers' fayre", and "traditional English fayre [cuisine]".

Anagrams

• Freya, arefy, faery