Fair Well? Fare Well? Farewell?

VydorScope · 05-25-2013, 10:42 PM

Which is the right use here...

Fair well, my brother
Fare well, my brother
Farewell, my brother

... as in "Good bye" in a fantasy world.

Thanks!

Lady Fitzgerald · 05-25-2013, 10:50 PM

"Farewell" is the correct form. It evolved from the Middle English (essentially, Old French) farwel.

If using it in a medieval styled fantasy setting, "fair thee well" might serve your needs better. "Fare well" could also serve. "Fair" would be completely inappropriate for this usage.

VydorScope · 05-25-2013, 10:56 PM

Great! Thanks!

crich70 · 05-26-2013, 12:12 AM

Yep. Fair would be as in fair maiden or going to the fair. Fare is used in farewell or humble fare.

Graham · 05-26-2013, 12:25 AM

Or as in 'how are you faring'?

i.e. 'How are you doing? Are you well?

Graham

crich70 · 05-26-2013, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham

Or as in 'how are you faring'?

i.e. 'How are you doing? Are you well?

Graham

Yep, and fare is also used as in "the fare for the ferry is $5.00," etc.True Homonyms Not sure what words that sound the same but are spelled differently are called but Homonyms are words that are both spelled and pronounced the same, but have different meanings. English is sometimes confusing to those who don't have it as their 1st language I'm sure. It's complex enough for those of us who do have it as the 1st language.

Lemurion · 05-26-2013, 03:02 PM

I would use "farewell" if it was meant in lieu of "goodbye," and "fare well" if it was someone wishing another a good journey rather than saying goodbye. However, it's important to note that I'd pronounce them differently if I was reading aloud, too, putting more stress on the "well" in the latter case.

VydorScope · 05-26-2013, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemurion

I would use "farewell" if it was meant in lieu of "goodbye," and "fare well" if it was someone wishing another a good journey rather than saying goodbye. However, it's important to note that I'd pronounce them differently if I was reading aloud, too, putting more stress on the "well" in the latter case.

In this case it is the person that is leaving that is speaking.

Lemurion · 05-26-2013, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VydorScope

In this case it is the person that is leaving that is speaking.

In that case, I'd say that "farewell" is the better of the two options, but neither is really a good choice for the departing person to say to the one who isn't leaving. Remember, it basically means "have a good trip," regardless of usage, so it always sounds off when said to someone who's staying put.

VydorScope · 05-26-2013, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemurion

In that case, I'd say that "farewell" is the better of the two options, but neither is really a good choice for the departing person to say to the one who isn't leaving. Remember, it basically means "have a good trip," regardless of usage, so it always sounds off when said to someone who's staying put.

Well they are both going on a trip, just not together. The one would never say something old fashioned like "farewell" while the other definitely would.

Freeshadow · 05-26-2013, 03:32 PM

Merry part

Lady Fitzgerald · 05-26-2013, 05:02 PM

If you want old fashioned, "Fare thee well" would work well. If you really want to get fancy, you could say something like, "Blessings upon thy household 'til we again meet", Blessings upon thee until again we meet", or simply, "Blessings upon thee and thine." There are numerous options one could use, such as Adding the possessive form of the name of a deity before "blessings", such as "God's blessings" or, even more formal, such as, "The blessings of God upon thee until again we should meet." You can also play with various combinations of these suggestions.

(Btw, I used to work Renaissance Festivals portraying a "feisty" disenfranchised Irish Noblewoman.)

James_Wilde · 05-27-2013, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

"Farewell" is the correct form. It evolved from the Middle English (essentially, Old French) farwel.

If using it in a medieval styled fantasy setting, "fair thee well" might serve your needs better. "Fare well" could also serve. "Fair" would be completely inappropriate for this usage.

Excuse me, my lady, but are you absolutely sure about that being Old French? I associate it more with the germanic languages, particularly the scandinavian ones, where it literally means travel well. To travel in Swedish and Icelandic at least is 'fara' and 'väl' in Swedish means well. Not that educated and travelled scandinavians couldn't have imported an Old French phrase of course.

Apart from this nit-picking, I think you have given Vidor an excellent explanation.

Lady Fitzgerald · 05-27-2013, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James_Wilde

Excuse me, my lady, but are you absolutely sure about that being Old French? I associate it more with the germanic languages, particularly the scandinavian ones, where it literally means travel well. To travel in Swedish and Icelandic at least is 'fara' and 'väl' in Swedish means well. Not that educated and travelled scandinavians couldn't have imported an Old French phrase of course.

Apart from this nit-picking, I think you have given Vidor an excellent explanation.

Middle English was mostly Old French brought over by the Normans (originally land based Vikings). Old English was mostly Old High German, brought over by the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes (Jutes were from present day Denmark). The direct Norse contributions (via the Vikings) were in addition to the Old High German and, later, the Old French brought over by the invading Normans (similar origins but highly influenced by the Franks, another Germanic tribe).

Modern French and English are dramatically different from their original versions. Even true Early Modern English (roughly late 14th/early 15th century) is difficult for present day English speakers to understand.

BeccaPrice · 05-27-2013, 04:55 PM

Fare well to someone who is leaving, I'd say, and Farewell to someone who is staying, said by the person who is leaving. but that's just me.

05-25-2013, 10:42 PM	#1
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	Fair Well? Fare Well? Farewell? Which is the right use here... Fair well, my brother Fare well, my brother Farewell, my brother ... as in "Good bye" in a fantasy world. Thanks!

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05-25-2013, 10:50 PM	#2
Lady Fitzgerald Wizard Posts: 2,013 Karma: 251649 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tempe, AZ, USA, Earth Device: JetBook Lite (away from home) + 1 spare, 32" TV (at home)	"Farewell" is the correct form. It evolved from the Middle English (essentially, Old French) farwel. If using it in a medieval styled fantasy setting, "fair thee well" might serve your needs better. "Fare well" could also serve. "Fair" would be completely inappropriate for this usage.

05-25-2013, 10:56 PM	#3
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	Great! Thanks!

05-26-2013, 12:12 AM	#4
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	Yep. Fair would be as in fair maiden or going to the fair. Fare is used in farewell or humble fare.

05-26-2013, 12:25 AM	#5
Graham Wizard Posts: 2,743 Karma: 32912427 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Yorkshire, UK Device: Kobo H20, Pixel 2, Samsung Chromebook Plus	Or as in 'how are you faring'? i.e. 'How are you doing? Are you well? Graham

05-26-2013, 03:02 PM	#7
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	I would use "farewell" if it was meant in lieu of "goodbye," and "fare well" if it was someone wishing another a good journey rather than saying goodbye. However, it's important to note that I'd pronounce them differently if I was reading aloud, too, putting more stress on the "well" in the latter case.

05-26-2013, 03:32 PM	#11
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,792 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	Merry part

05-26-2013, 05:02 PM	#12
Lady Fitzgerald Wizard Posts: 2,013 Karma: 251649 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tempe, AZ, USA, Earth Device: JetBook Lite (away from home) + 1 spare, 32" TV (at home)	If you want old fashioned, "Fare thee well" would work well. If you really want to get fancy, you could say something like, "Blessings upon thy household 'til we again meet", Blessings upon thee until again we meet", or simply, "Blessings upon thee and thine." There are numerous options one could use, such as Adding the possessive form of the name of a deity before "blessings", such as "God's blessings" or, even more formal, such as, "The blessings of God upon thee until again we should meet." You can also play with various combinations of these suggestions. (Btw, I used to work Renaissance Festivals portraying a "feisty" disenfranchised Irish Noblewoman.)

05-27-2013, 04:55 PM	#15
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,145 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	Fare well to someone who is leaving, I'd say, and Farewell to someone who is staying, said by the person who is leaving. but that's just me.

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