faun
pronunciation
How to pronounce faun in British English:
UK [fɔ:n]
How to pronounce faun in American English:
US [fɔn]
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- Noun:
- ancient Italian deity in human shape, with horns, pointed ears and a goat's tail; equivalent to Greek satyr
Word Origin
- faun (n.)
- "rustic woodland spirit or demigod part human, part goat," late 14c., from Latin Faunus, the name of a god of the countryside, worshipped especially by farmers and shepherds, equivalent of Greek Pan. The faunalia were held in his honor. Formerly somewhat assimilated to satyrs, but they have diverged again lately. The faun is now regarded rather as the type of unsophisticated & the satyr of unpurified man; the first is man still in intimate communion with Nature, the second is man still swayed by bestial passions. [Fowler] The plural is fauni. The word is of uncertain origin. De Vaan suggests Proto-Italic *fawe/ono-, from a PIE word meaning "favorable," with cognates in Old Irish buan "good, favorable; firm," Middle Wensh bun "maiden, sweetheart."
Example
- 1. Faun , the illusion escapes from the blue eyes .
- 2. He said he knows the faun .
- 3. I am legion the dancing faun .
- 4. Sobbed mr tumnus , " I 'm crying because I 'm such a bad faun . "
- 5. White witch : do you know why you are here , faun ?