fan

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fanned p. pr. & vb. n. Fanning ] [ Cf. OF. vanner, L. vannere. See Fan, n., Van a winnowing machine. ] 1. To move as with a fan. [ 1913 Webster ]

The air . . . fanned with unnumbered plumes. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cool and refresh, by moving the air with a fan; to blow the air on the face of with a fan. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To ventilate; to blow on; to affect by air put in motion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Calm as the breath which fans our eastern groves. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To winnow; to separate chaff from, and drive it away by a current of air; as, to fan wheat. Jer. li. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To excite or stir up to activity, as a fan excites a flame; to stimulate; as, this conduct fanned the excitement of the populace. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fanning machine, or
Fanning mill, a machine for separating seed from chaff, etc., by a blast of air; a fanner. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] A lighthouse, or the apparatus placed in it for giving light. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. fanaticus inspired by divinity, enthusiastic, frantic, fr. fanum fane: cf. F. fanatique. See Fane. ] Pertaining to, or indicating, fanaticism; extravagant in opinions; ultra; unreasonable; excessively enthusiastic, especially on religious subjects; as, fanatic zeal; fanatic notions. [ 1913 Webster ]

But Faith, fanatic Faith, once wedded fast
To some dear falsehood, hugs it to the last. T. Moore. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A person affected by excessive enthusiasm, particularly on religious subjects; one who indulges wild and extravagant notions of religion. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is a new word, coined within few months, called fanatics, which, by the close stickling thereof, seemeth well cut out and proportioned to signify what is meant thereby, even the sectaries of our age. Fuller (1660). [ 1913 Webster ]

Fanatics are governed rather by imagination than by judgment. Stowe. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Characteristic of, or relating to, fanaticism; fanatic. -Fa*nat"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Fa*nat"ic*al*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Fanatism. ] Excessive enthusiasm, unreasoning zeal, or wild and extravagant notions, on any subject, especially religion, politics or ideology; religious frenzy.

Syn. -- See Superstition. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fanaticized p. pr. & vb. n. Fanaticizing ] To cause to become a fanatic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. fanatisme. Cf. Fanaticism. ] Fanaticism. [ R. ] Gibbon. [ 1913 Webster ]