Fabian

See also Fabián

English

Etymology

From Latin Fabianus (“belonging to Fabius”), possibly derived from faba (“bean”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈfeɪbiən/

Adjective

Fabian (comparative more Fabian, superlative most Fabian)

1. 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 2004, p. 745:

     Hood complained behind his commander's back to Richmond of Johnston's Fabian strategy.

2. 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.
3. (by extension) cautious; dilatory; avoiding a decisive contest.

Noun

Fabian (plural Fabians)

1. A Fabian socialist, a gradualist socialist; a member of the Fabian Society.

Synonyms

• (gradualist socialist): gradualist, reformist, social democrat

Related terms

• Fabianism
• Fabian policy

Proper noun

Fabian

1. A male given name borne by an early pope. Rare in English.

Translations

male given name

Catalan: Fabià (ca) French: Fabien (fr) German: Fabian (de)

Italian: Fabiano (it) Spanish: Fabián (es) Swedish: Fabian (sv)

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German

Proper noun

Fabian

1. A male given name

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Swedish

Proper noun

Fabian

1. A male given name