The Prisoner of Zenda (36 page)

favours
NOUN
here favours is an old word which means ribbons
A group of humble mourners entered the gate: wearing white favours
(
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens)

feigned
VERB
pretend or pretending
not my feigned page
(
On His Mistress
by John Donne)

fence
NOUN
a fence is someone who receives and sells stolen goods
What are you up to? Ill-treating the boys, you covetous, avaricious, in-sa-ti-a-ble old fence?
(
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens)
NOUN
defence or protection
but honesty hath no fence against superior cunning
(
Gulliver's Travels
by Jonathan Swift)

fess
ADJ
fess is an old word which means pleased or proud
You'll be fess enough, my poppet
(
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
by Thomas Hardy)

fettered
ADJ
fettered means bound in chains or chained
“You are fettered,” said Scrooge, trembling. “Tell me why?”
(
A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens)

fidges
VERB
fidges means fidgets, which is to keep moving your hands slightly because you are nervous or excited
Look, Jim, how my fingers fidges
(
Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson)

finger-post
NOUN
a finger-post is a sign-post showing the direction to different places
“The gallows,” continued Fagin, “the gallows, my dear, is an ugly finger-post, which points out a very short and sharp turning that has stopped many a bold fellow's career on the broad highway.”
(
Oliver Twist
by Charles Dickens)

fire-irons
NOUN
fire-irons are tools kept by the side of the fire to either cook with or look after the fire
the fire-irons came first
(
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll)

fire-plug
NOUN
a fire-plug is another word for a fire hydrant
The pony looked with great attention into a fire-plug, which was near him, and appeared to be quite absorbed in contemplating it
(
The Old Curiosity Shop
by Charles Dickens)