▪ I.feat,n.|fiːt|Forms: 4–7 fait(e, -yt(e, 4–6 fete, (4 fet), 5 faytte, 5–6 faicte, feacte, fett(e, feet(e, feit, (6 faytht), 5–7 feate, 6, 9 Sc.fate, 6– feat.[a.OFr.fait, fet (later faict):—L. factum: see factn.]†1.In neutral sense: An action, deed, course of conduct;=factn.1 a. Also feats and deeds. to do, perform or work the feat: to ‘do the deed’. to work one's (full) feat: to effect one's full purpose.c1420Chron.Vilod. 2464To Wylton he bytte ȝow gon To parforme þe fette.1491CaxtonVitas Patr. (W. de W. 1495) i. ix. 13 b/2Saynt Iherom..prayed that he wold recounte to hem of his faytes & his dedes.1503–4Act 19Hen.VII, c. 34 Preamb.,Dyvers feetis betwen theym conseyved and conspired.1538LelandItin. IV. 6Of the which[treasoure]..he tooke a certein part..to a Feete at his own Pleasure.a1555RidleyWks.(1843) 65Thou..shalt be lawfully called to do thy feat and to play thy part.1576Tyde Tarryeth no Man,Thy money is English, which must worke the feate.1577HolinshedChron.II. 310To come to their succours in time, and yer the English⁓men had wrote their full feat.1587Turberv.Trag.T. (1837) 101He that had resolvde..to..doe his feate, and home agayne.1630R. Johnson'sKingd.& Commw. 34Where numbers..and weapons have not..prevailed, there hath money alone done the feat.1659B. HarrisParival's Iron Age 7The Tartars..as soon as they have done their feat..betake themselves to their heels.1678ButlerHud. iii. i. 511If you have perform'd the Feat The Blows are visible.1732PopeHor.Sat.ii. ii. 15If then plain bread and milk will do the feat, The pleasure lies in you, and not the meat.†b.Action in general; overt action; deeds, as opposed to words. by way of feat (Law;=F. par voie de fait): by violence. Obs.1362Langl.P. Pl. A. i. 160James þe gentel bond hit in his Book, Þat[Fey]withouten[fait]Is febelore þen nouȝt.a1400–50Alexander 4366All þare fete..in falshede it endis.1426Oath of Lords in Hall Chron.(1809) 135Not suffer that any of the saied parties..procede or attempte by waye of feit against the kynges peace.Ibid.,Redressyng all such maner of procedyng by waie of feit or force.1560Proude Wyues Pater Noster 35 inHazl.E.P.P. IV. 152,I can nought gete of him by fete nor wyle.†c.A business transaction. Obs.1588J. MellisBriefeInstr.F iv b,Put your feates downe.. aparte in a leafe..after your doing.d.by feat of: by the agency of, by dint of. Obs.exc.arch.1489CaxtonFaytes of A. i. i. 1Executed by fayt of dyligence and witte.1805ScottLast Minstr. i. xi,Men said, he changed his mortal frame By feat of magic mystery.2.An exceptional or noteworthy act or achievement; esp.a deed of valour; a noble exploit. Often in feat of arms. Now somewhat arch., and with some mixture of 3.a1400–50Alexander 3105All þe feete at oure fadirs in þe fold hade.1485CaxtonParis & V. 9Knyghtes redy to do fayte of armes.c1507Justes Moneths May & June 182Hazl.in E.P.P. II. 127Noble actes and faytes mercyall Shall be had in remembraunce immortall.1555Abp.Parker Ps.cvi. 305Noble faytes in Egypt done.1585Jas.I Ess.Poesie (Arb.) 67Martiall and knichtly faittis of armes.1611BibleJudith xi. 8Thou onelyart..wonderfull in feates of warre.1642R. CarpenterExperience,A peece of sanctified and blessed waxe, which shall..make the Devill runne, and doe many such feates.1667MiltonP.L. ii. 537With feats of Arms From either end of Heav'n the welkin burns.1813ScottTrierm. ii. xxvi,For feats of arms as far renown'd As warrior of the Table Round.1843LyttonLast Bar. i. i,Those personal feats..dazzled the populace.1856StanleySinai & Pal. iii. (1858) 161Othniel performed the feat of arms that won him the daughter of Caleb.†b.man or folk of feat: man or folk of deeds or might.Cf.Fr.gens de fait.c1500Melusine 119They were folke of faytte and of grete enterpryse.Ibid.211Prysouners..al men of estate & faytte.3.An action displaying dexterity or strength; a surprising trick, a ‘tour de force’.1564BriefExam.* * * * * *,Among the Painims..men are able to worke theyr feates.1614Bp.Hall Recoll.Treat.989Hee had rather send for his magicians to worke feates.1682S. PordageMedalRev.281The jugling feat Is plainly seen.1770Goldsm.Des. Vill. 22Sleights of art and feats of strength went round.1822J. ImisonSc.& Art I. 22Feats of balancing.1826J. WilsonNoct. Ambr.Wks.1855 I. 240What tricks did the imps perform? They werena tricks, they were fates.1867M. E. HerbertCradle L. vi. 155A wonderful feat of architectural skill.†4.An evil deed; a crime. Obs.=factn.1 c.1481CaxtonGodfrey 224This fals turk..had don this feet.1490―Eneydos iv. 20The blody faytte vpon me doon by the false..Plasmator.1559Mirr.Mag.,Dk.Clarence xii,Towarde his feat to set me more on fire.†5.A kind of action; one of the operations practised in any art or profession; also, in more comprehensive sense, a department of action, a pursuit, employment, art or profession. the feat of merchandise: mercantile business. (the) feat of war: warfare. feats of war: military duties or exercises. Obs.c1400Destr. Troy 10039Wise men in werr..Of all fetis enfourmyt, þat to fight longit.c1500ArnoldeChron.(1811) 80Freemen ocupied a bowte the faite of marchandise in ferre contreis.1511–2Act 3Hen.VIII, c. 5 §1To serve the Kyng..in feit of Warre.1531ElyotGov.i. viii. (1537) 24By the feate of portraiture..a capitayne maye dyscriue the countrey of his aduersary.1539Cranmer in StrypeLife ii. (1694) 243The smith..will not sell..the tools of his occupation. For then how should hee work his feat?1540Act 32Hen.VIII, c. 42 §3Suche persones..exercise barbari, as washynge, or shauyng, and other feates thervnto belongyng.1555Act 2–3 Ph. & M. c. 11 §4No..Weaver..shall..exercise the Feat or Mystery of a Tucker.1574J. Dee inLett.Lit.Men (Camden) 38A good boke or Instrument for Perspective, Astronomy, or som feat of importance.1577tr.Bullinger's Decades iii. i. 268/1The feate of merchandising is no where condemned throughout the holye Scriptures.1600HollandLivy xxi. xxv. (1609) 407A nation unskilfull altogether in the feat of assaulting townes.1648MiltonTenure Kings (1650) 57They..practise feats in the Artillery-grounds.1652Needhamtr.Selden's MareCl.498People..using and exercising the craft and feat of Fishing.†6.The art, knack, or trick of doing anything.c1386ChaucerClerk's T. 373Grisildis..Coude all the fete of wifly homliness.c1400Destr. Troy 1529Masons..þat mykull fete couthe.1548Udall, etc.Erasm. Par. Mark iii. 27None knewe better the feate howe to worke mischiefe.1553ShortCatech.in Liturgies, etc. (1844) 496More..than that I, by any feat of utterance, may easily express it.1599NasheLenten Stuffe (1871) 107They want the right feat, how to salt and season them.1633FordLove's Sacr. i. ii,I have got the feat on't.1681GlanvillSadducismus ii. 39These Men having..the Feat..of Colouring, Painting and Fucussing.†7.Fact, actuality. In phrases: the feat of: the facts that relate to. in, of feat: in fact. Obs.13..E.E.Allit.P. B. 1106Hit ferde freloker in fete in his fayre honde.a1400–50Alexander 30Þai..Of þe fold & of þe firmament wele þe fete cuthe.1436Pol.Poems (Rolls) II. 182Than shulde worshyp unto oure noble be, In feet and forme to lorde and magesté.c1477CaxtonJason 13Alway in feet ye haue refused him.1481―Myrr. iii. iv. I vij b,Will ye thenne after see the fait of the mone.1490―Eneydos iv. 18To haue knowleche of this myracle and of alle the faytte therof.c1500Melusine 184Of faytte theire was grete scarmysshing and grete losse.†b.upon the feat of (Fr.sur le fait de): on the subject of, concerning. Obs.1483CaxtonGold.Leg.427/1Gyuyng counceyll to the sowles upon the fayte of theyr conscyence.1483―G. de la Tour (1868) 167Ones it befell to Syre Foucques delaual, as he told me vpon the fayt of this Ensample.c1489―Blanchardyn xxiii. 76The proude pucelle..spake..vpon the faytte of her werre.8.Comb.objective, as feat-worker.1617PurchasPilgrimage iv. xviii. §5 (ed.3) 504Tumblers, and other feat-workers.▪ II.feat,a.andadv.Obs.exc.arch.and dial.|fiːt|Forms: 4–6 fete, 6 feet(e, (fette, fait, feacte), 6–7 feate, 5– feat.[a.OF.fait made:—L. factus,pa.pple.of facĕre to make.InFr.the word seems always to have retained its distinctlyppl.sense. But fait pour (lit.‘made for’) is now used in much the same way as feat for, to (sense 1).]A.adj.1.Fitting, suitable, proper. Const. for, to.c1325Coer de L. 3024Mete and drynk that is nought fete To hys body.1555EdenDecades 181A name very feete and agreable to many of them.1562J. HeywoodProv.& Epigr. (1867) 73Shewyng him selfe a new man, as was feet.1570DeeMath.Pref.,At tymes fete, and in places convenient.1575LanehamLet.(1871) 14This place..of nature iz foormed so feet for the purpose.2.Of speech or action (hence of speakers or agents): Apt, apropos; smart, adroit. Of movements: Dexterous, graceful.1519W. HormanVulg.Q iij b,The feat conueyans of a speche that soundeth well to the eare.1532MoreConfut.TindaleWks.421He commeth furth with his fete proper taunte.1557Tottell'sMisc.(Arb.) 157Who hath plaied a feater cast Since iuglyng first begoon?1579LylyEuphues (Arb.) 46Their wit..forgeth them some feat excuse to cloake their vanitie.1593Bacchus Bountie in Harl.Misc.(Malh.) II. 273This youth was a feate fellow and a fine faulkner.1611Shakes.Cymb.v. v. 88Neuer Master had A Page..So feate.a1625FletcherNight-walker iii. vi,She speaks feat English.1647Jer.Taylor Dissuas. Popery ii.Introd.,His reasoning, and deducing from those principles such feat conclusions.a1699Stillingfl. (J.),That feat man at controversy.1714GaySheph.Week Monday 49The featest maid That e'er at wake delightsome gambol play'd.1719CibberLove in a Riddle ii. i,Shew your Skill, and who's the featest Fellow!1787GroseProvinc.Gloss.s.v.,A feit felly, a dexterous fellow.1851S. JuddMargaret iii. (1871) 380With featest strokes she drives forward her canoe.3.Of dress, etc.: Becoming, well fitting, neat, elegant. Hence of the wearer: Neatly attired.c1430Lydg.Min.Poems (PercySoc.) 37Feat was hir array.c1450Crt.of Love 1087Patens faire and fete.1560Proude Wyves Pater Noster 47 inHazl.E.P.P. IV. 153Women..Go feete and fresshe and trymme in theyr gere.1610Shakes.Temp.ii. i. 273Looke how well my Garments sit vpon me, Much feater than before.1613WitherEpithal. Juvenil. (1633) 364In your neat'st and feat'st adorning.1880inAntrim & DownGloss.4.Neat in form or appearance, pretty, ‘nice’, elegant.a1471MS.Cantab. Ff.ii. 38,f.48 (Halliw.)Ye fele ther fete, so fete ar thay.1519W. HormanVulg.T v,She wereth corked slippers to make hir tal and feet.a1536Calisto & Melib. inHazl.Dodsley I. 62Her mouth proper and feat.1594PlattJewell-ho. iii. 7Small and feate Leaden vveightes.1607TopsellFour-f. Beasts (1673) 229The Sarmatican kind of Horses is feat and well fashioned.1623BinghamXenophon 60A woman of the featest fashion.1708Brit.ApolloNo.93. 3/2To what Use, can I put this feat Creature?1785BurnsHalloween iii,Lasses feat, an' cleanly neat.5.Affected, finikin.1540R. Hyrdetr.Vives'Instr.Chr.Wom. (1592) K ij,She shal not..use hir voyce to be feat and nice.a1647Ess.on Death in Bacon'sWks.(Spedding) VI. 603,I hold such to be but feat boldness, and them that dare commit it, to be vain.1693ShadwellVolunteers ii,'Tis the featest finical fellow, I ever saw!1705HickeringillPriest-cr. i. (1721) 44Would Pinkethman..screw his Chaps into such feat Grimaces.1709SteeleTatlerNo.66 ⁋11,I proposed to flux him; but Greenhat answer'd, That if he recovered, he'd be as prim and feat as ever he was.6.Comb., as feat-bodied, feat-lookingadjs.1613Beaum.&Fl.Coxcomb iii. iii,This is a feat-bodied thing I tell you.1877N.W.Linc.Gloss.s.v.,‘She's a feat-lookin' lass.’B.adv.In a ‘feat’ manner.a1455Houlate 518To fecht for the faith fete.1514BarclayCyt. & Uplondyshm. (PercySoc.) 27That can gambauld or daunce feat and gent.1597Shakes.Lover'sCompl.48Letters..With sleided silk feat and affectedly Enswath'd.▪ III.†feat,v.Obs.Also 5 fete, feete.[f.theadj.Cf.OF.faitier, fait v.²]1.trans.To equip, furnish, make fit.a1400–50Alexander 4632We ere fetid full faire, & hes oure fyue wittis.1613P. ForbesComm.Revelat. xv. 151The preachers are feated by swallowing of the little booke.Ibid.152These Ministers of the last wrath are feated and prepared to this great execution.b.to feat oneself forth: to display oneself.a1400–50Alexander 3989He feetis him forth in his force & in his faire hiȝte.2.Falconry.=feak v.² (of which it may be a corruption).1508FisherWks.(1876) 154There she[the sparowe]wypeth and feteth her byl.1575Turberv.Faulconrie 120You must..feate hir beake and cope hir reasonably.3.? To constrain to propriety.1611Shakes.Cymb.i. i. 49[He]Liu'd in Court..A sample to the yongest: to th' more Mature, A glasse that feated them.Hence ˈfeated ppl.a., suited. ˈfeating vbl.n.1606W. BirnieKirk-Buriall vii,We mumchance and mour⁓gean in such dilicate duilles, better feated for wowing nor woing.1682N. O.Boileau's Lutrin iii.Argt.,Yet for all's Feating, The proof of th' Pudding's seen i' th' eating.