▪ I. fie, int.
(faɪ)
Forms: 3 fi, 3–8 fy, (4 fyȝ), 5–9 fye, 6–7 phy, 5– fie.
[ME. fi, fy, app. a. OF. fi, fy (mod.F. fi):—L. fī, an imitation of the sound instinctively made on perceiving a disagreeable smell. Cf. ON. f{yacu} (Da. fy, also fy skam dig, fie shame to you! Sw. fy), of similar origin.
The ON. may possibly be a joint source of the Eng. word, but the early instances either occur in translations from Fr. or imitate the Fr. construction fi de.]
1. An exclamation expressing, in early use, disgust or indignant reproach. No longer current in dignified language; said to children to excite shame for some unbecoming action, and hence often used to express the humorous pretence of feeling ‘shocked’. Sometimes more fully fie, for shame! Const. † of (= on), on, upon.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 390 ‘Fy a debles’, quaþ þe kyng. c 1330 King of Tars 612 Fy on ow everichon! c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 1578 ‘Fy’, quaþ Moradas, ‘wat ert þow; þat telest of me so lyte?’ c 1386 Chaucer Man of Law's Prol. 80 Of all swiche cursed stories I say fy. ― Nun's Pr. T. 71 Ye ben a very sleper, fy for shame. c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode iii. xlvi, Chastitee..whan she seeth me seith fy. c 1440 York Myst. xxxii. 103 Fye on hym, dastard! 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xi. xxxv, Fy upon slouth, the nourysher of vyce. a 1553 Udall Royster D. iii. iv. (Arb.) 52 What weepe? Fye for shame! And blubber? 1583 Babington Commandm. ix. (1637) 91 Fie of that affection, that damneth our soules! 1592 Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 611 Fie, fie, he saies, you crush me, let me go. 1606 Sir. G. Goosecappe iii. ii. in Bullen O. Pl. III. 53 Fie for shame; I never heard of such an antedame. 1677 Gale Crt. Gentiles iv. 113 Phy! how depraved is mans nature altogether! 1749 Fielding Tom Jones viii. ix, Fy upon it, Mr. Partridge..are you afraid of facing a little cold? 1764 Foote Mayor of G. ii. i, Fye Mr. Bruin, how can you be such a bear to your wife. 1832 Lytton Eugene A. i. ii, Fie, neighbour, fie, what's the good of profaneness. 1861 T. A. Trollope La Beata II. xiv. 111 ‘Fie!’ said Beppina in a state of great delight. |
2. quasi-n. † a. qualified by an adj.: as double, much fie (obs.). b. as obj. in to cry († bid, † spit) fie upon.
| c 1550 R. Weaver Lusty Juventus in Hazl. Dodsley II. 87 Now much fie upon you! how bawdy you are! c 1555 Harpsfield Divorce Hen. VIII (1878) 173 Fie and double fie upon the impudency of this..shameless divine. 1599 Breton Author's Dreame, Follie, he badde Fie upon Wisdome. 1662 J. Sparrow tr. Behme's Rem. Wks., Def. agst. Rickter 13 The Libeller spits Fy, and filth, against the Repentance. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xvii, ‘My relations won't cry fie upon me’, Becky said. |
3. as n.
| 1576 Gascoigne Philomene in Wks. 1870 II. 245 These phyes, and many moe, Pore Philomene may meane. a 1643 W. Cartwright Ordinary iv. v. in Hazl. Dodsl. XII. 298 What angry pishes, and what fies..The list'ning taper heard there sworn. 1820 Scott Monast. I. ii. 105 The child reddened..while the mother, with many a fye and nay pshaw [etc.]. |
▪ II. † fie, v.1 Obs.
In 4 fye, 5 phy.
[ad. Fr. fier, Pr. and Sp. fiar, It. fidare:—popular L. *fīdāre, f. L. fīdus faithful.]
trans. To trust; also refl. = Fr. se fier. Const. in.
| 1340 Ayenb. 136 He him fyeth more in oþres uirtue þanne ine his. c 1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 1068, I his lover and cavse wyll phy. |
▪ III. † fie, v.2 Obs.
[f. fie int.]
intr. To say Fie!
| c 1394 P. Pl. Crede 616 [He] fyeþ on her falshedes þat þei bifore deden. |