▪ I. feat, n.
(fiːt)
Forms: 4–7 fait(e, -yt(e, 4–6 fete, (4 fet), 5 faytte, 5–6 faicte, feacte, fett(e, feet(e, feit, (6 faytht), 5–7 feate, 6, 9 Sc. fate, 6– feat.
[a. OFr. fait, fet (later faict):—L. factum: see fact n.]
† 1. In neutral sense: An action, deed, course of conduct; = fact n. 1 a. Also feats and deeds. to do, perform or work the feat: to ‘do the deed’. to work one's (full) feat: to effect one's full purpose.
| c 1420 Chron. Vilod. 2464 To Wylton he bytte ȝow gon To parforme þe fette. 1491 Caxton Vitas Patr. (W. de W. 1495) i. ix. 13 b/2 Saynt Iherom..prayed that he wold recounte to hem of his faytes & his dedes. 1503–4 Act 19 Hen. VII, c. 34 Preamb., Dyvers feetis betwen theym conseyved and conspired. 1538 Leland Itin. IV. 6 Of the which [treasoure]..he tooke a certein part..to a Feete at his own Pleasure. a 1555 Ridley Wks. (1843) 65 Thou..shalt be lawfully called to do thy feat and to play thy part. 1576 Tyde Tarryeth no Man, Thy money is English, which must worke the feate. 1577 Holinshed Chron. II. 310 To come to their succours in time, and yer the English⁓men had wrote their full feat. 1587 Turberv. Trag. T. (1837) 101 He that had resolvde..to..doe his feate, and home agayne. 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 34 Where numbers..and weapons have not..prevailed, there hath money alone done the feat. 1659 B. Harris Parival's Iron Age 7 The Tartars..as soon as they have done their feat..betake themselves to their heels. 1678 Butler Hud. iii. i. 511 If you have perform'd the Feat The Blows are visible. 1732 Pope Hor. Sat. ii. ii. 15 If then plain bread and milk will do the feat, The pleasure lies in you, and not the meat. |
† b. Action in general; overt action; deeds, as opposed to words. by way of feat (Law; = F. par voie de fait): by violence. Obs.
| 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. i. 160 James þe gentel bond hit in his Book, Þat [Fey] withouten [fait] Is febelore þen nouȝt. a 1400–50 Alexander 4366 All þare fete..in falshede it endis. 1426 Oath of Lords in Hall Chron. (1809) 135 Not suffer that any of the saied parties..procede or attempte by waye of feit against the kynges peace. Ibid., Redressyng all such maner of procedyng by waie of feit or force. 1560 Proude Wyues Pater Noster 35 in Hazl. E.P.P. IV. 152, I can nought gete of him by fete nor wyle. |
† c. A business transaction. Obs.
| 1588 J. Mellis Briefe Instr. F iv b, Put your feates downe.. aparte in a leafe..after your doing. |
d. by feat of: by the agency of, by dint of. Obs. exc. arch.
| 1489 Caxton Faytes of A. i. i. 1 Executed by fayt of dyligence and witte. 1805 Scott Last Minstr. i. xi, Men said, he changed his mortal frame By feat of magic mystery. |
2. An exceptional or noteworthy act or achievement; esp. a deed of valour; a noble exploit. Often in feat of arms. Now somewhat arch., and with some mixture of 3.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 3105 All þe feete at oure fadirs in þe fold hade. 1485 Caxton Paris & V. 9 Knyghtes redy to do fayte of armes. c 1507 Justes Moneths May & June 182 Hazl. in E.P.P. II. 127 Noble actes and faytes mercyall Shall be had in remembraunce immortall. 1555 Abp. Parker Ps. cvi. 305 Noble faytes in Egypt done. 1585 Jas. I Ess. Poesie (Arb.) 67 Martiall and knichtly faittis of armes. 1611 Bible Judith xi. 8 Thou onely art..wonderfull in feates of warre. 1642 R. Carpenter Experience, A peece of sanctified and blessed waxe, which shall..make the Devill runne, and doe many such feates. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 537 With feats of Arms From either end of Heav'n the welkin burns. 1813 Scott Trierm. ii. xxvi, For feats of arms as far renown'd As warrior of the Table Round. 1843 Lytton Last Bar. i. i, Those personal feats..dazzled the populace. 1856 Stanley Sinai & Pal. iii. (1858) 161 Othniel performed the feat of arms that won him the daughter of Caleb. |
† b. man or folk of feat: man or folk of deeds or might. Cf. Fr. gens de fait.
| c 1500 Melusine 119 They were folke of faytte and of grete enterpryse. Ibid. 211 Prysouners..al men of estate & faytte. |
3. An action displaying dexterity or strength; a surprising trick, a ‘tour de force’.
| 1564 Brief Exam. * * * * * *, Among the Painims..men are able to worke theyr feates. 1614 Bp. Hall Recoll. Treat. 989 Hee had rather send for his magicians to worke feates. 1682 S. Pordage Medal Rev. 281 The jugling feat Is plainly seen. 1770 Goldsm. Des. Vill. 22 Sleights of art and feats of strength went round. 1822 J. Imison Sc. & Art I. 22 Feats of balancing. 1826 J. Wilson Noct. Ambr. Wks. 1855 I. 240 What tricks did the imps perform? They werena tricks, they were fates. 1867 M. E. Herbert Cradle L. vi. 155 A wonderful feat of architectural skill. |
† 4. An evil deed; a crime. Obs. = fact n. 1 c.
| 1481 Caxton Godfrey 224 This fals turk..had don this feet. 1490 ― Eneydos iv. 20 The blody faytte vpon me doon by the false..Plasmator. 1559 Mirr. Mag., Dk. Clarence xii, Towarde his feat to set me more on fire. |
† 5. A kind of action; one of the operations practised in any art or profession; also, in more comprehensive sense, a department of action, a pursuit, employment, art or profession. the feat of merchandise: mercantile business. (the) feat of war: warfare. feats of war: military duties or exercises. Obs.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 10039 Wise men in werr..Of all fetis enfourmyt, þat to fight longit. c 1500 Arnolde Chron. (1811) 80 Freemen ocupied a bowte the faite of marchandise in ferre contreis. 1511–2 Act 3 Hen. VIII, c. 5 §1 To serve the Kyng..in feit of Warre. 1531 Elyot Gov. i. viii. (1537) 24 By the feate of portraiture..a capitayne maye dyscriue the countrey of his aduersary. 1539 Cranmer in Strype Life ii. (1694) 243 The smith..will not sell..the tools of his occupation. For then how should hee work his feat? 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII, c. 42 §3 Suche persones..exercise barbari, as washynge, or shauyng, and other feates thervnto belongyng. 1555 Act 2–3 Ph. & M. c. 11 §4 No..Weaver..shall..exercise the Feat or Mystery of a Tucker. 1574 J. Dee in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 38 A good boke or Instrument for Perspective, Astronomy, or som feat of importance. 1577 tr. Bullinger's Decades iii. i. 268/1 The feate of merchandising is no where condemned throughout the holye Scriptures. 1600 Holland Livy xxi. xxv. (1609) 407 A nation unskilfull altogether in the feat of assaulting townes. 1648 Milton Tenure Kings (1650) 57 They..practise feats in the Artillery-grounds. 1652 Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 498 People..using and exercising the craft and feat of Fishing. |
† 6. The art, knack, or trick of doing anything.
| c 1386 Chaucer Clerk's T. 373 Grisildis..Coude all the fete of wifly homliness. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1529 Masons..þat mykull fete couthe. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Mark iii. 27 None knewe better the feate howe to worke mischiefe. 1553 Short Catech. in Liturgies, etc. (1844) 496 More..than that I, by any feat of utterance, may easily express it. 1599 Nashe Lenten Stuffe (1871) 107 They want the right feat, how to salt and season them. 1633 Ford Love's Sacr. i. ii, I have got the feat on't. 1681 Glanvill Sadducismus ii. 39 These Men having..the Feat..of Colouring, Painting and Fucussing. |
† 7. Fact, actuality. In phrases: the feat of: the facts that relate to. in, of feat: in fact. Obs.
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. B. 1106 Hit ferde freloker in fete in his fayre honde. a 1400–50 Alexander 30 Þai..Of þe fold & of þe firmament wele þe fete cuthe. 1436 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 182 Than shulde worshyp unto oure noble be, In feet and forme to lorde and magesté. c 1477 Caxton Jason 13 Alway in feet ye haue refused him. 1481 ― Myrr. iii. iv. I vij b, Will ye thenne after see the fait of the mone. 1490 ― Eneydos iv. 18 To haue knowleche of this myracle and of alle the faytte therof. c 1500 Melusine 184 Of faytte theire was grete scarmysshing and grete losse. |
† b. upon the feat of (Fr. sur le fait de): on the subject of, concerning. Obs.
| 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 427/1 Gyuyng counceyll to the sowles upon the fayte of theyr conscyence. 1483 ― G. de la Tour (1868) 167 Ones it befell to Syre Foucques delaual, as he told me vpon the fayt of this Ensample. c 1489 ― Blanchardyn xxiii. 76 The proude pucelle..spake..vpon the faytte of her werre. |
8. Comb. objective, as feat-worker.
| 1617 Purchas Pilgrimage iv. xviii. §5 (ed. 3) 504 Tumblers, and other feat-workers. |
▪ II. feat, a. and adv. Obs. exc. arch. and dial.
(fiːt)
Forms: 4–6 fete, 6 feet(e, (fette, fait, feacte), 6–7 feate, 5– feat.
[a. OF. fait made:—L. factus, pa. pple. of facĕre to make.
In Fr. the word seems always to have retained its distinctly ppl. sense. But fait pour (lit. ‘made for’) is now used in much the same way as feat for, to (sense 1).]
A. adj.
1. Fitting, suitable, proper. Const. for, to.
| c 1325 Coer de L. 3024 Mete and drynk that is nought fete To hys body. 1555 Eden Decades 181 A name very feete and agreable to many of them. 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 73 Shewyng him selfe a new man, as was feet. 1570 Dee Math. Pref., At tymes fete, and in places convenient. 1575 Laneham Let. (1871) 14 This place..of nature iz foormed so feet for the purpose. |
2. Of speech or action (hence of speakers or agents): Apt, apropos; smart, adroit. Of movements: Dexterous, graceful.
| 1519 W. Horman Vulg. Q iij b, The feat conueyans of a speche that soundeth well to the eare. 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 421 He commeth furth with his fete proper taunte. 1557 Tottell's Misc. (Arb.) 157 Who hath plaied a feater cast Since iuglyng first begoon? 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 46 Their wit..forgeth them some feat excuse to cloake their vanitie. 1593 Bacchus Bountie in Harl. Misc. (Malh.) II. 273 This youth was a feate fellow and a fine faulkner. 1611 Shakes. Cymb. v. v. 88 Neuer Master had A Page..So feate. a 1625 Fletcher Night-walker iii. vi, She speaks feat English. 1647 Jer. Taylor Dissuas. Popery ii. Introd., His reasoning, and deducing from those principles such feat conclusions. a 1699 Stillingfl. (J.), That feat man at controversy. 1714 Gay Sheph. Week Monday 49 The featest maid That e'er at wake delightsome gambol play'd. 1719 Cibber Love in a Riddle ii. i, Shew your Skill, and who's the featest Fellow! 1787 Grose Provinc. Gloss. s.v., A feit felly, a dexterous fellow. 1851 S. Judd Margaret iii. (1871) 380 With featest strokes she drives forward her canoe. |
3. Of dress, etc.: Becoming, well fitting, neat, elegant. Hence of the wearer: Neatly attired.
| c 1430 Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 37 Feat was hir array. c 1450 Crt. of Love 1087 Patens faire and fete. 1560 Proude Wyves Pater Noster 47 in Hazl. E.P.P. IV. 153 Women..Go feete and fresshe and trymme in theyr gere. 1610 Shakes. Temp. ii. i. 273 Looke how well my Garments sit vpon me, Much feater than before. 1613 Wither Epithal. Juvenil. (1633) 364 In your neat'st and feat'st adorning. 1880 in Antrim & Down Gloss. |
4. Neat in form or appearance, pretty, ‘nice’, elegant.
| a 1471 MS. Cantab. F f. ii. 38, f. 48 (Halliw.) Ye fele ther fete, so fete ar thay. 1519 W. Horman Vulg. T v, She wereth corked slippers to make hir tal and feet. a 1536 Calisto & Melib. in Hazl. Dodsley I. 62 Her mouth proper and feat. 1594 Platt Jewell-ho. iii. 7 Small and feate Leaden vveightes. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1673) 229 The Sarmatican kind of Horses is feat and well fashioned. 1623 Bingham Xenophon 60 A woman of the featest fashion. 1708 Brit. Apollo No. 93. 3/2 To what Use, can I put this feat Creature? 1785 Burns Halloween iii, Lasses feat, an' cleanly neat. |
5. Affected, finikin.
| 1540 R. Hyrde tr. Vives' Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592) K ij, She shal not..use hir voyce to be feat and nice. a 1647 Ess. on Death in Bacon's Wks. (Spedding) VI. 603, I hold such to be but feat boldness, and them that dare commit it, to be vain. 1693 Shadwell Volunteers ii, 'Tis the featest finical fellow, I ever saw! 1705 Hickeringill Priest-cr. i. (1721) 44 Would Pinkethman..screw his Chaps into such feat Grimaces. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 66 ¶11, I proposed to flux him; but Greenhat answer'd, That if he recovered, he'd be as prim and feat as ever he was. |
6. Comb., as feat-bodied, feat-looking adjs.
| 1613 Beaum. & Fl. Coxcomb iii. iii, This is a feat-bodied thing I tell you. 1877 N.W. Linc. Gloss. s.v., ‘She's a feat-lookin' lass.’ |
B. adv. In a ‘feat’ manner.
| a 1455 Houlate 518 To fecht for the faith fete. 1514 Barclay Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy Soc.) 27 That can gambauld or daunce feat and gent. 1597 Shakes. Lover's Compl. 48 Letters..With sleided silk feat and affectedly Enswath'd. |
▪ III. † feat, v. Obs.
Also 5 fete, feete.
[f. the adj. Cf. OF. faitier, fait v.2]
1. trans. To equip, furnish, make fit.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 4632 We ere fetid full faire, & hes oure fyue wittis. 1613 P. Forbes Comm. Revelat. xv. 151 The preachers are feated by swallowing of the little booke. Ibid. 152 These Ministers of the last wrath are feated and prepared to this great execution. |
b. to feat oneself forth: to display oneself.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 3989 He feetis him forth in his force & in his faire hiȝte. |
2. Falconry. = feak v.2 (of which it may be a corruption).
| 1508 Fisher Wks. (1876) 154 There she [the sparowe] wypeth and feteth her byl. 1575 Turberv. Faulconrie 120 You must..feate hir beake and cope hir reasonably. |
3. ? To constrain to propriety.
| 1611 Shakes. Cymb. i. i. 49 [He] Liu'd in Court..A sample to the yongest: to th' more Mature, A glasse that feated them. |
Hence ˈfeated ppl. a., suited. ˈfeating vbl. n.
| 1606 W. Birnie Kirk-Buriall vii, We mumchance and mour⁓gean in such dilicate duilles, better feated for wowing nor woing. 1682 N. O. Boileau's Lutrin iii. Argt., Yet for all's Feating, The proof of th' Pudding's seen i' th' eating. |