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Fabian

//ˈfeɪ.biː.ən// adj, name, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Pertaining to or reminiscent of Roman general Fabius Maximus, whose tactics against Hannibal during the Second Punic War famously consisted of delaying or avoiding combat, focusing instead on weakening the enemy by cutting off supply lines.

    "Hood complained behind his commander's back to Richmond of Johnston's Fabian strategy."

  2. 2
    Alternative form of Fabian. alt-of, alternative
  3. 3
    Advocating that social reforms be reached through a series of gradual and moderate stages rather than sudden revolution; specifically, relating to the Fabian Society, a British socialist society advocating reformist socialism.
  4. 4
    Cautious; dilatory; avoiding a decisive contest. broadly
Adjective
  1. 1
    using cautious slow strategy to wear down opposition; avoiding direct confrontation wordnet
  2. 2
    of or relating to Fabianism wordnet
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A male given name from Latin. rare
  2. 2
    A surname.
Noun
  1. 1
    A Fabian socialist, a gradualist socialist; a member of the Fabian Society.
  2. 2
    a member of the Fabian Society in Britain wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Latin Fabiānus (“belonging to Fabius”), derived from Fabius + -ānus.

Etymology 2

From Latin Fabiānus (“belonging to Fabius”), derived from Fabius + -ānus.

Etymology 3

From Latin Fabiānus (“belonging to Fabius”), derived from Fabius + -ānus.

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