set fair

present singular third person sets fair · participle present setting fair

1. businessTo provide a smooth, finished surface on plaster after roughing in.

   The ceiling of basement to be lathed with strong laths securely nailed, plastered two coats, set fair, and twice whitened when dry.

   1860, Robert Scott Burn, Handbook of the Mechanical Arts, page 48

   2 more examples

   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.

   1849, Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England

   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.

   1855, The Practical Mechanic's Journal - Volumes 7-8, page 109

2. To become favorable.

   The wind sets fair for news to go to Ireland, But none returns.

   1595, Shakespeare, King Richard II

   3 more examples

   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.

   1874, “Unexhausted Improvements”, in The Country Gentleman's Magazine, volume 2, page 587

   Huzza for Otaheite, boys, The breeze is setting fair, And on its wing, so fleet, boys, We soon shall revel there.

   1835, The American Monthly Magazine - Volume 4, page 16

   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.

   2011, Graeme Swann, Graeme Swann: The Breaks Are Off - My Autobiography, →ISBN

3. To develop weather that is clear and pleasant.

   The day set fair without a breath of wind.

   2007, M. C. Beaton, Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate, →ISBN, page 151

   2 more examples

   The clouds on the mountains had dissipated, the day set fair and hot.

   2013, Martin Booth, Islands of Silence: A Novel, →ISBN

   Visibility was good and the weather set fair.

   2016, Geoff Titterton, Our Nine Year Honeymoon, →ISBN

4. To put in order; to make neat.

   But it won't set fair when made tight around yards or round thimbles.

   2016, Brion Toss, The Complete Rigger's Apprentice, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   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.

   1803, William Taplin, The Sporting Dictionary and Rural Repository of General Information, page 390

   Then set it fair to the points of the spindles, and at an equal distance back from them at the brasses all along ;

   1845, The Practical Cotton Spinner

comparative more set fair · superlative most set fair

1. Favorable; propitious.

   Robert Zemeckis’s forthcoming Allied is set fair to be a great big blockbuster, a swooning second world war romantic drama.

   2016 November 7, Peter Bradshaw, “Allied: what happens when a film gets eclipsed by gossip”, in The Guardian

   3 more examples

   The economies of north America, western Europe and parts of Asia seemed to be set fair for many decades of growth fuelled by the high carbon systems of production and consumption.

   2011, John Urry, Climate Change and Society, →ISBN, page 48

   All seemed to be set fair for English power across the Channel but in 1369 the new French king, Charles V, known as Charles the Wise, reasserted his feudal rights over all the territories of France.

   2011, Peter Ackroyd, Foundation: The History of England, →ISBN

   Sure enough reform, when it came, achieved almost exactly what the Whigs had hoped: as soon as the industrial employing classes were brought into government, most agitation subsided, and all seemed set fair for stability.

   2012, Lindsey German, John Rees, A People's History of London, →ISBN, page 106

2. In a state of settled fair weather.

   So early one morning, when the weather seemed set fair, Rochelle told Laurie about the food store.

   2012, Judith Saxton, This Royal Breed, →ISBN

   4 more examples

   There was just a chance this morning that, if the weather looked very 'set fair', we might make another attempt, but although at the camp it was beautifully fine, we could still see signs of wind & drift on the sea slopes of Terror & the temperature was rather low.

   2004, Reginald William Skelton (Judy V. Skelton), The Antarctic Journals of Reginald Skelton

   It is crucial to have all the machines ready to go when the grass is at its peak and the weather is set fair for two or three days, and when the engineer said that the baler was working fine, we eagerly looked at the weather forecast.

   2005, Linda Watson, The Ladies of Low Arvie: Living the Farming Dream, →ISBN, page 158

   They would trad with the Orks again -- in better weather next time. They quickly left while it looked set fair.

   2007, Margarett Mirley, Closing the Helix, →ISBN

   Although there was still some ice and snow in the gullies and valleys that we encountered on the trek up, it was otherwise quite a clear morning and conditions were set fair as we set off.

   2015, Gary Stidder, Becoming a Physical Education Teacher, →ISBN, page xi

3. In good shape.

   At the racecourse, I could tell Red Rum was very well in himself and looked set fair in the sunshine.

   2014, Ginger Mccain, My Colourful Life: From Red to Amber, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   All must have looked set fair by the time Hogg returned to Scotland in March 1832, and early reports suggested a rapid sale of 1500 copies of the first volume, representing the first tranche of a printing of 3000.

   2012, Ian Duncan, Douglas Mack, The Edinburgh Companion to James Hogg, →ISBN, page 29

   His version of 'Myfanwy' was given the thumbs-up by CBS and we looked set fair. Set fair, that is, until one of their promotion guys heard it.

   2014, Mike Read, Seize the Day, →ISBN