- fine
-
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French fin, fine, from Latin finis boundary, end
Date: 13th century
1. obsolete end, conclusion
2. a compromise of a fictitious suit used as a form of conveyance of lands
3.
a. a sum imposed as punishment for an offense
b. a forfeiture or penalty paid to an injured party in a civil action
II. transitive verb
(fined; fining)
Date: 1559
to impose a fine on ; punish by a fine
III. adjective
(finer; finest)
Etymology: Middle English fin, from Anglo-French, from Latin finis, noun, end, limit
Date: 13th century
1.
a. free from impurity
b. of a metal having a stated proportion of pure metal in the composition expressed in parts per thousand <a gold coin .9166 fine> 2. a. (1) very thin in gauge or texture <fine thread> (2) not coarse <fine sand> (3) very small <fine print> (4) keen <a knife with a fine edge> (5) very precise or accurate <a fine adjustment> <trying to be too fine with his pitches> b. physically trained or hardened close to the limit of efficiency — used of an athlete or animal 3. delicate, subtle, or sensitive in quality, perception, or discrimination <a fine distinction> 4. superior in kind, quality, or appearance ; excellent <a fine job> <a fine day> <fine wines> 5. a. ornate 1 <fine writing> b. marked by or affecting elegance or refinement <fine manners> 6. a. very well <feel fine> b. all right <that's fine with me> 7. — used as an intensive <the leader, in a fine frenzy, beheaded one of his wives — Brian Crozier> • fineness noun IV. adverb Date: 14th century 1. finely: as a. very well b. all right 2. with a very narrow margin of time or space <she had not intended to cut her escape so fine — Melinda Beck et al.> V. verb (fined; fining) Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. purify, clarify <fine and filter wine> 2. to make finer in quality or size intransitive verb 1. to become pure or clear <the ale will fine> 2. to become smaller in lines or proportions VI. noun Etymology: Italian, from Latin finis end Date: circa 1798 end — used as a direction in music to mark the closing point after a repeat
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
