faitour

English

Alternative forms

• faytor [14th-17th c.]
• fayter [15th-16th c.]

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman faitour (cognate with Old French faitor ‘doer, maker’), from Latin factorem, from facere (“do, make”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈfeɪtə/

Noun

faitour (plural faitours)

1. (archaic) A charlatan or imposter, especially one pretending to be ill, or to tell fortunes.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book II:

     This fayter with his prophecye hath mocked me.

   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, I.iv:

     Into new woes vnweeting I was cast, / By this false faytor [...].

   • 1969, Robert Nye, Tales I Told My Mother:

     Quick, now, little faitour. What do you want to know about Gondal?

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Old French

Noun

faitour m (oblique plural faitours, nominative singular faitours, nominative plural faitour)

1. a layabout (one who does nothing)

Descendants

• English: faitour

References

• faitour on the Anglo-Norman On-Line Hub