Middle English Dictionary Entry

fīn adj.
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Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
Of supreme or select quality, choice; excellent, superior; suitable in character or quality; often contextually: rich, valuable, precious, costly.
2.
Used broadly to express admiration, approval, satisfaction, or pleasure: (a) of things: admirable, pleasing, beautiful; (b) of persons: excellent, superb, consummate in virtue; honorable; also used ironically: perfect, consummate; (c) pleasant, agreeable; (d) good, wholesome, beneficial (life or works); maken fin, make (a guest) comfortable.
3.
(a) Free of impurities or blemishes; pure, clean, refined; of metals: containing no dross or alloy, pure; contextually: of high quality, choice; (b) of gold and silver, with reference to the quantity of pure metal in an alloy: showing a high proportion of pure metal; as a noun: purity, fineness; (c) of poison: pure, undiluted; (d) pure, genuine.
4.
Of precious stones: without blemish or fault; of superior quality, choice.
5.
Of color: pure, bright, radiant, beautiful.
6.
In a moral sense: pure, true, genuine, perfect; faithful; constant, unwavering; fin love, ~herte, ~hope.
7.
Pure, sheer, utter; by, with, of fin fors, by main force; of (sheer) necessity, necessarily.
8.
Of an agreement or promise: fully ratified, final, binding. [Cp. fin n. (2), sense 5.]
9.
(a) Of persons and their actions: accomplished, expert, skilled; subtle, clever; for fin, subtly, ingeniously (used ironically); (b) of human features: delicate, exquisite, lovely.
10.
(a) Expertly fashioned, well or skillfully made; excellent; (b) of cloth and finery: delicately wrought, finely textured; exquisite.
11.
Thin (sheet); thin-edged, sharp (weapon); finely ground (flour), of superior quality; thin (broth).