fair-spoken

[ fair-spoh-kuhn ]

adjective

1. speaking or spoken in a courteous, civil, or plausible manner; smooth-spoken.

fair-spoken

adjective

1. civil, courteous, or elegant in speech

Derived Forms

• ˌfair-ˈspokenness, noun

Other Words From

• fair-spoken·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fair-spoken¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75

Example Sentences

“I came and fetched you out of the cupboard. You needed to be taught a lesson, but we temper our justice with mercy here; we love the sinner and we hate the sin. Now, if you will be a good child who loves her mother, be compliant and fair-spoken, you and I shall understand each other perfectly and we shall love each other perfectly as well.”

From Literature

‘I am Mr. Brandybuck. Is that enough for you? The Bree-folk used to be fair-spoken to travellers, or so I had heard.’

From Literature

‘I am glad to learn it,’ said Beregond, ‘for now I may say that strange accents do not mar fair speech, and hobbits are a fair-spoken folk. But come! You shall make me acquainted with this good horse. I love beasts, and we see them seldom in this stony city; for my people came from the mountain-vales, and before that from Ithilien. But fear not! The visit shall be short, a mere call of courtesy, and we will go thence to the butteries.’

From Literature

Plausible, plawz′i-bl, adj. that may be applauded: seemingly worthy of approval or praise: superficially pleasing: apparently right: fair-spoken: popular.—ns.

From Project Gutenberg

The clean-washed, white-shirted, fair-spoken villain! they would have his blood for this, if the United States Marshal had every mother's son of them strung up in a row for it after the pesky business was once fairly over.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• appreciative
• congratulatory
• polite
• respectful