Dictionary entry

Fetch

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Fetch (fĕch; 224), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Fetched 2; p. pr. & vb. n.. Fetching.] [OE. fecchen, AS. feccan, perh. the same word as fetian; or cf. facian to wish to get, OFries. faka to prepare. √ 77. Cf. Fet, v. t.] 1. To bear toward the person speaking, or the person or thing from whose point of view the action is contemplated; to go and bring; to get.

Time will run back and fetch the age of gold. Milton.

He called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch it he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 1 Kings xvii. 11, 12.

2. To obtain as price or equivalent; to sell for.

Our native horses were held in small esteem, and fetched low prices. Macaulay.

3. To recall from a swoon; to revive; — sometimes with to; as, to fetch a man to.

Fetching men again when they swoon. Bacon.

4. To reduce; to throw.

The sudden trip in wrestling that fetches a man to the ground. South.

5. To bring to accomplishment; to achieve; to make; to perform, with certain objects; as, to fetch a compass; to fetch a leap; to fetch a sigh.

I'll fetch a turn about the garden. Shak.

He fetches his blow quick and sure. South.

6. To bring or get within reach by going; to reach; to arrive at; to attain; to reach by sailing.

Meantine flew our ships, and straight we fetched

The siren's isle. Chapman.

7. To cause to come; to bring to a particular state.

They could n't fetch the butter in the churn. W. Barnes.

To fetch a compass(Naut.), to make a circuit; to take a circuitous route going to a place. — To fetch a pump, to make it draw water by pouring water into the top and working the handle. — To fetchheadway or sternway(Naut.), to move ahead or astern. — To fetch out, to develop. “The skill of the polisher fetches out the colors ” Addison.To fetch up. (a) To overtake. “Says, I can fetch up the tortoise when I please.” L'Estrange. (b) To stop suddenly.