fair-haired
UK[ˌfeəˈheəd]US[ˌferˈherd]
adj
Having light-colored hair, especially blond hair.
adj
(dated) Favored or preferred; a favorite.
Morpheme Breakdown
fair
haired
fair
light-colored
haired
having hair
Etymology
The compound 'fair-haired' is a straightforward descriptive term from Old English roots. The first element, 'fair', evolved from a Proto-Germanic word meaning 'beautiful' or 'pleasant', which over time specialized in English to denote light complexion and hair color. The second element, 'haired', is derived from the common noun for filamentous growth. Combined, they literally describe someone 'having fair (light-colored) hair'. The figurative sense of being a 'favorite' or 'darling' emerged in the 19th century, drawing an analogy to the favored status often attributed to a blond child in a family or group.
Analysis
Structure: fair (light-colored) + haired (having hair)
- fair: From Old English fæger (beautiful, pleasant, fair). In this compound, it carries the sense of 'light in color'.
- haired: From Old English hǣr (hair) + the suffix -ed, forming an adjective meaning 'having hair (of a specified kind)'.
Examples
The fair-haired boy stood out among his darker-haired siblings.
In the corporate restructuring, she became the CEO's fair-haired protégé.
Many classic fairy tales feature a fair-haired heroine.