far-fetched, ppl. a.
(ˈfɑːfɛtʃt, fɑːˈfɛtʃt)
[f. far adv. + fetched; cf. far-fet.]
1. Brought from far. Obs. exc. arch. † Of a pedigree: Traced from a remote origin.
| 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. i. (1879) 33 Farrefetched and deare boughte is good for Ladyes, they say. 1586 Cogan Haven Health clxxxvii. (1639) 169 Indian pearles be greatest and more desired as being far fetched. 1634 W. Wood New Eng. Prosp. Ded., The first fruites of my farre-fetcht experience. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. vi. (1703) II. 162 A far fetch'd Pedigree, through so many hundred years. 1658 W. Burton Itin. Anton. 20 Oysters..conveyed thence to Rome, among other farfetcht Dainties. 1769 De Foe's Tour Gt. Brit. I. 254 According to the old Saying, Far⁓fetch'd, and dear bought, is fittest for the Ladies. 1784 Cowper Task i. 243 He..brings his bev'rage home, Far⁓fetch'd and little worth. 1870 Morris Earthly Par. III. iv. 71 She reached her fine strong hand anear The far⁓fetched thing. |
† b. Devious, circuitous. (Cf. to fetch a compass.)
| a 1656 Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 48 Others by secret and far-fetch't passages escaped home. |
2. Of an argument, notion, simile, etc.: Studiously sought out; not easily or naturally introduced; strained.
| 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1673) 99 Democritus and other..give other reasons, but..they seem to be far fetched. 1647 Cowley Mistress, Wish iv, Pride and Ambition here, Only in far-fetch'd metaphors appear. 1732 Berkeley Alciphr. ii. §1, I shall not trouble you with authorities, or far-fetched arguments. 1844 H. Rogers Ess. (1860) I. 76 Some far-fetched conceit, or unpardonable extravagance. 1869 Trollope He Knew lxxxi. (1878) 450 Far-fetched ideas respecting English society. |
Hence far-ˈfetchedness, the state or fact of being far-fetched.
| a 1849 Poe Browning Wks. 1864 III 415 A certain far⁓fetchedness of imagery. 1866 Times 6 Apr. 5 No excuse for extreme quaintness, oddity, and far-fetchedness. |