Fabian

See also: fabian and Fabián

English

Alternative forms

• fabian

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfeɪbi.ən/

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, published 2004, page 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.

Translations

all senses

• German: fabisch (de)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Italian: fabiano

Noun

Fabian (plural Fabians)

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

   Synonyms: gradualist, reformist, social democrat

Related terms

• Fabianism

Proper noun

Fabian

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

Translations

male given name

• Aragonese: Fabián m
• Catalan: Fabià
• Faroese: Fabian m
• French: Fabien (fr)
• Galician: Fabián (gl), Fabiano (gl), Fabio (gl)
• German: Fabian (de)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Italian: Fabiano (it)
• Polish: Fabian (pl) m pers
• Portuguese: Fabiano (pt)
• Spanish: Fabián (es)
• Swedish: Fabian (sv)

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Cebuano

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: fa‧bian

Proper noun

Fabian

1. a male given name

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Faroese

Proper noun

Fabian m

1. a male given name.

Usage notes

• son of Fabian: Fabiansson
• daughter of Fabian: Fabiansdóttir

Declension

	Singular
	Indefinite
Nominative	Fabian
Accusative	Fabian
Dative	Fabiani
Genitive	Fabians

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German

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin Fabianus (“belonging to Fabius”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfaːbian/

• Audio:

  (file)

Proper noun

Fabian m

1. a male given name

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Polish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin Fabianus (“belonging to Fabius”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfa.bjan/

• Audio:

  (file)

Proper noun

Fabian m

1. a male given name, equivalent to English Fabian.

Declension

Declension of Fabian

	singular	plural
nominative	Fabian	Fabiani/Fabiany (deprecative)
genitive	Fabiana	Fabianów
dative	Fabianowi	Fabianom
accusative	Fabiana	Fabianów
instrumental	Fabianem	Fabianami
locative	Fabianie	Fabianach
vocative	Fabianie	Fabiani

Further reading

• Template:R:PWN

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Swedish

Proper noun

Fabian c (genitive Fabians)

1. a male given name