set fair
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Forms: form: sets fair
form: setting fair
form: set fair
form: set fair
Senses: examples: text: The ceilings of the upper story to be lathed, plastered, and set fair; and the walls of the same, with those of the living rooms, to be rendered and set fair.
ref: 1849, Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England:
text: The cavities or cells run horizontally, and the blocks are dovetailed together at the joints, and united with strong-guaged plaster of Paris and lime putty, or air-slacked lime. They are set fair, and dressed with scrapers, forming a surface suitable either for paint or paper.
ref: 1855, The Practical Mechanic's Journal - Volumes 7-8, page 109:
text: The ceiling of basement to be lathed with strong laths securely nailed, plastered two coats, set fair, and twice whitened when dry.
ref: 1860, Robert Scott Burn, Handbook of the Mechanical Arts, page 48:
topics: business
construction
manufacturing
masonry
glosses: To provide a smooth, finished surface on plaster after roughing in.
examples: text: The wind sets fair for news to go to Ireland, But none returns.
ref: 1595, Shakespeare, King Richard II:
text: Public opinion is setting fair in the direction of utilizing the many miles of unproductive waste, and has also recognized the present drawbacks to production, consequent upon the restrictions tenant-farmers labour under at the present time.
ref: 1874, “Unexhausted Improvements”, in The Country Gentleman's Magazine, volume 2, page 587:
text: Huzza for Otaheite, boys, The breeze is setting fair, And on its wing, so fleet, boys, We soon shall revel there.
ref: 1835, The American Monthly Magazine - Volume 4, page 16:
text: India won the toss and batted first, and were set fair for a massive score at 320 for one, but once again I removed Gambhir and Dravid in quick succession, this time after both had hundreds to their names, and then the prize scalp of Tendulkar, all in a 19-run spell.
ref: 2011, Graeme Swann, Graeme Swann: The Breaks Are Off - My Autobiography, →ISBN:
glosses: To become favorable.
examples: text: The day set fair without a breath of wind.
ref: 2007, M. C. Beaton, Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate, →ISBN, page 151:
text: The clouds on the mountains had dissipated, the day set fair and hot.
ref: 2013, Martin Booth, Islands of Silence: A Novel, →ISBN:
text: Visibility was good and the weather set fair.
ref: 2016, Geoff Titterton, Our Nine Year Honeymoon, →ISBN:
glosses: To develop weather that is clear and pleasant.
examples: text: He is then furnished with dry sheets, hood, &c. brought to the ground for the purpose; when being led home to the stable, he is supplied with the necessary quantity of soft water, a little warm, previous to undergoing a regular and complete dressing, with greater nicety, than in the open air: when this is systematically gone through, he has a farther moderate supply of water, which is most commonly (though there are occasional deviations) followed by a warm and comfortable mash; upon depositing which in the manger, and setting the stable fair, the door is closed for a double period of the usual hours for going to stable when a horse has not been sweated; and although he undergoes the afternoon and evening routine of being fed, set fair, &c. he is neither stripped, or goes to exercise, any more on that day.
ref: 1803, William Taplin, The Sporting Dictionary and Rural Repository of General Information, page 390:
text: Then set it fair to the points of the spindles, and at an equal distance back from them at the brasses all along ;
ref: 1845, The Practical Cotton Spinner:
text: But it won't set fair when made tight around yards or round thimbles.
ref: 2016, Brion Toss, The Complete Rigger's Apprentice, →ISBN:
glosses: To put in order; to make neat.