Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An ancient temple; hence, poetically, any place consecrated to religion; a church.
  • noun A flag; a banner.
  • noun A weather-cock: now vane (which see).

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun poet. A temple; a place consecrated to religion; a church.
  • noun obsolete A weathercock.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A temple or sacred place.
  • noun obsolete A weathercock, a weather vane.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin fanum ("temple, place dedicated to a deity").

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Examples

  • The word fane you'll recognize in weather vane; a metal flag that the wind blows.

    podictionary - for word lovers - dictionary etymology, trivia & history 2009

  • Also: "une fane" is a dead leaf ... and ... the verb "faner" finds itself before "fanfare" in the dictionary (while one conjugates to

    Lettres de ma Terrasse 2009

  • The world seemed suddenly pro­fane, meaningless and, therefore, unbearable.

    Buddha Armstrong, Karen, 1944- 2001

  • Logically, Youth has re-equipped him for sin and with the disposition to commit it; he will naturally go to the fane which is consecrated to the Fulfillment of Desires, and make arrangements.

    Following the Equator, Part 6 Mark Twain 1872

  • Logically, Youth has re-equipped him for sin and with the disposition to commit it; he will naturally go to the fane which is consecrated to the Fulfillment of Desires, and make arrangements.

    Following the Equator Mark Twain 1872

  • Juno, too, was entreated by the matrons, first, in the Capitol, then on the nearest part of the coast, whence water was procured to sprinkle the fane and image of the goddess.

    Tacitus on Mythicism James F. McGrath 2010

  • Then hastened all the race of Phrygia to the gates, to make the goddess a present of an Argive band ambushed in the polished mountain-pine, Dardania's ruin, a welcome gift to be to her, the virgin queen of deathless steeds; and with nooses of cord they dragged it, as it had been a ship's dark hull, to the stone-built fane of the goddess

    The Trojan Women 2008

  • Dance to Artemis, queen Artemis the blest, around her fane and altar; for by the blood of my sacrifice I will blot out the oracle, if it needs must be.

    Iphigenia at Aulis 2008

  • O Apollo, blest godhead, lord of Thymbra and of Delos, who hauntest thy fane in Lycia, come with all thy archery, appear this night, and by thy guidance save our friend now setting forth, and aid the

    Rhesus 2008

  • Then hastened all the race of Phrygia to the gates, to make the goddess a present of an Argive band ambushed in the polished mountain-pine, Dardania's ruin, a welcome gift to be to her, the virgin queen of deathless steeds; and with nooses of cord they dragged it, as it had been a ship's dark hull, to the stone-built fane of the goddess

    The Trojan Women 2008

Comments

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  • ...the grandeur of the fane gives a diminutive effect to the little painted divinities that are adorned in it...

    - Smollett, The Expedition of Humphry Clinker (Bramble to Lewis), 1771

    January 7, 2009

  • Not to be confused with fainé.

    January 7, 2009