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A.Word.A.Day--fawn

fawn (fon) verb intr.

1. To exhibit affection or attempt to please, as a dog does by wagging its tail, whining, or cringing.

2. To seek favor or attention by flattery and obsequious behavior.

[Middle English faunen, from Old English fagnian, to rejoice, from fagen, faegen, glad.]

fawn (fon) noun

1. A young deer, especially one less than a year old.

2. Color. A grayish yellow brown to light grayish or moderate reddish brown.

[Middle English, from Old French foun, faon, feon, young animal, from Vulgar Latin *feto, -feton-, from Latin fetus, offspring.]

"She tucked the animal in the back of her red Suzuki Sidekick and drove the fawn to her home on Manhattan Avenue, where she fed it baby formula. The deer died four hours later." Ace Atkins, Woman charged in deer theft, The Tampa Tribune, 15 Jul 1999.

This week's theme: words for animal offspring.

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