Fabian
See also: fabian and Fabián
English
Alternative forms
- fabian
Etymology
From Latin Fabianus (“belonging to Fabius”), possibly derived from faba (“bean”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈfeɪbi.ən/
Audio (RP) (file)
Adjective
Fabian (comparative more Fabian, superlative most Fabian)
- (military) Pertaining to or reminiscent of Roman general Fabius Maximus, whose tactics against Hannibal during the Second Punic War famously consisted of delaying or avoiding combat, focusing instead on weakening the enemy by cutting off supply lines.
- 1988, James McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom, Oxford, published 2004, page 745:
- Hood complained behind his commander's back to Richmond of Johnston's Fabian strategy.
-
- Advocating that social reforms be reached through a series of gradual and moderate stages rather than sudden revolution; specifically, relating to the Fabian Society, a British socialist society advocating reformist socialism.
- (by extension) cautious; dilatory; avoiding a decisive contest.
Translations
all senses
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Noun
Fabian (plural Fabians)
- A Fabian socialist, a gradualist socialist; a member of the Fabian Society.
- Synonyms: gradualist, reformist, social democrat
Related terms
- Fabianism
Proper noun
Fabian
- (rare) A male given name from Latin.
Translations
male given name
|
Faroese
Proper noun
Fabian m
- a male given name
Usage notes
- son of Fabian: Fabiansson
- daughter of Fabian: Fabiansdóttir
Declension
| Singular | |
| Indefinite | |
| Nominative | Fabian |
| Accusative | Fabian |
| Dative | Fabiani |
| Genitive | Fabians |
German
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin Fabianus (“belonging to Fabius”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈfaːbian/
Audio (file)
Proper noun
Fabian m
- a male given name
Occitan
Proper noun
Fabian m
- (Gascony) a male given name, equivalent to English Fabian
References
- Patric Guilhemjoan, Diccionari elementari occitan-francés francés-occitan (gascon), 2005, Orthez, per noste, 2005, →ISBN, page 148.
Polish
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin Fabianus.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈfa.bjan/
Audio (file) - Rhymes: -abjan
- Syllabification: Fa‧bian
Proper noun
Fabian m pers
- a male given name, equivalent to English Fabian
Declension
Declension of Fabian
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | Fabian | Fabianowie |
| genitive | Fabiana | Fabianów |
| dative | Fabianowi | Fabianom |
| accusative | Fabiana | Fabianów |
| instrumental | Fabianem | Fabianami |
| locative | Fabianie | Fabianach |
| vocative | Fabianie | Fabianowie |
Further reading
- Fabian in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
- Fabian in Polish dictionaries at PWN
Swedish
Proper noun
Fabian c (genitive Fabians)
- a male given name