Webster's English Dictionary

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fawn

1. fawn \'fo.n, 'fa:n\ \-in-le-\ vi [ME faunen, fr. OE fagnian to rejoice, 
   fr. fgen, ]fagan glad - more at FAIN 1: to show affection - used esp. 
   of a dog  2: to court favor by a cringing or flattering manner : GROVEL 
   plies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention; TOADY 
   suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or 
   subservient attitude; TRUCKLE implies the subordination of oneself and 
   one's desires or judgment to those of a superior; CRINGE suggests a bowing 
   or shrinking in fear or servility; COWER suggests a display of abject fear 
   in the face of threatening or domineering - fawn.er n SYN syn TOADY, 
   TRUCKLE, CRINGE, COWER: FAWN im 
2. fawn n [ME foun, fr. MF feon, faon young of an animal, fr. (assumed)] VL 
   feton-, feto, fr. L fetus offspring 1: a young deer; esp : one still 
   unweaned or retaining a distinctiv e baby coat 2: KID  3: a variable color 
   averaging a light grayish brown