fard

verb

ˈfärd 

farded; farding; fards

transitive verb

1

: to paint (the face) with cosmetics

2

archaic : to gloss over

fard noun archaic

Did you know?

The Connection Between Fard and Cosmetics

Though a relatively uncommon little word, fard is used to describe a very familiar activity-the application of cosmetics. When it is encountered these days it is often in participle form or simply as an example of an unusual or old-timey word. Fard was borrowed from Anglo-French (from the verb farder) and first appeared in English in the mid-1400s. It is ultimately of Germanic origin and akin to the Old High German word faro, meaning "colored."

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French farder, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German faro colored — more at perch

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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