Fabian
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English
Etymology
From Latin Fabiānus (“belonging to Fabius”), derived from Fabius + -ānus.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈfeɪbi.ən/
Audio (Southern England): (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.
- (politics) 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.
Alternative forms
Translations
Noun
Fabian (plural Fabians)
- (politics) A Fabian socialist, a gradualist socialist; a member of the Fabian Society.
- Synonyms: gradualist, reformist, social democrat
Related terms
Proper noun
Fabian
- (rare) A male given name from Latin.
- A surname.
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 Fabiānus (“belonging to Fabius”).
Pronunciation
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
Learned borrowing from Latin Fabianus.
Pronunciation
Proper noun
Fabian m pers
- a male given name, equivalent to English Fabian
Declension
Declension of Fabian
Further reading
- Fabian in Polish dictionaries at PWN
Swedish
Pronunciation
Audio: (file)
Proper noun
Fabian c (genitive Fabians)
- a male given name
- (minced oath, colloquial) Euphemistic form of fan.
- Synonym: fabian
Usage notes
Most common in "fy Fabian."