Fabian
English edit
Etymology edit
From Latin Fabiānus (“belonging to Fabius”), derived from Fabius + -ānus.
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
Fabian (comparative more Fabian, superlative most Fabian)
- (military) Pertaining to or reminiscent of Roman general Fabius Maximus, whose tactics against Hannibal during the Second Punic War famously consisted of delaying or avoiding combat, focusing instead on weakening the enemy by cutting off supply lines.
- 1988, James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom, Oxford, published 2004, page 745:
- Hood complained behind his commander's back to Richmond of Johnston's Fabian strategy.
- (politics) Advocating that social reforms be reached through a series of gradual and moderate stages rather than sudden revolution; specifically, relating to the Fabian Society, a British socialist society advocating reformist socialism.
- (by extension) cautious; dilatory; avoiding a decisive contest.
Alternative forms edit
Translations edit
Noun edit
Fabian (plural Fabians)
- (politics) A Fabian socialist, a gradualist socialist; a member of the Fabian Society.
- Synonyms: gradualist, reformist, social democrat
Related terms edit
Proper noun edit
Fabian
- (rare) A male given name from Latin.
- A surname.
Translations edit
Faroese edit
Proper noun edit
Fabian m
- a male given name
Usage notes edit
- son of Fabian: Fabiansson
- daughter of Fabian: Fabiansdóttir
Declension edit
Singular | |
Indefinite | |
Nominative | Fabian |
Accusative | Fabian |
Dative | Fabiani |
Genitive | Fabians |
German edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from Latin Fabiānus (“belonging to Fabius”).
Pronunciation edit
Proper noun edit
Fabian m
- a male given name
Occitan edit
Proper noun edit
Fabian m
- (Gascony) a male given name, equivalent to English Fabian
References edit
- Patric Guilhemjoan, Diccionari elementari occitan-francés francés-occitan (gascon), 2005, Orthez, per noste, 2005, →ISBN, page 148.
Polish edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Proper noun edit
Fabian m pers
- a male given name, equivalent to English Fabian
Declension edit
Declension of Fabian
Further reading edit
- Fabian in Polish dictionaries at PWN
Swedish edit
Pronunciation edit
Audio (file)
Proper noun edit
Fabian c (genitive Fabians)
- a male given name
- (minced oath, colloquial) Euphemistic form of fan.
- Synonym: fabian
Usage notes edit
Most common in "fy Fabian."