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Antonyms for fly


Grammar : Verb
Spell : flahy
Phonetic Transcription : flaɪ



Definition of fly

Origin :
  • Old English fleoge "fly, winged insect," from Proto-Germanic *fleugjon (cf. Old Saxon fleiga, Old Norse fluga, Middle Dutch vlieghe, Dutch vlieg, Old High German flioga, German Fliege "fly); literally "the flying (insect)" (cf. Old English fleogende "flying"), from same source as fly (v.1).
  • Originally any winged insect (hence butterfly, etc.); long used by farmers and gardeners for any insect parasite. The Old English plural in -n (cf. oxen) gradually normalized 13c.-15c. to -s. Fly on the wall "unseen observer" first recorded 1881. An Old English word for "curtain" was fleonet "fly-net." Fly-swatter first attested 1917. Fly-fishing is from 1650s.
  • verb take to the air, usually employing wings
  • verb run or pass swiftly
  • verb escape, flee
Example sentences :
  • I fly to seek a kindlier sphere, Since thou hast ceased to love me here.
  • Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
  • Should not one fly the man who is but suspected of such a one?
  • Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
  • I have thirteen arrows yet, and if one of them fly unfleshed, then, by the twang of string!
  • Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Chip carefully brushed a fly off Polly's flank with the whip.
  • Extract from : « Chip, of the Flying U » by B. M. Bower
  • Now fly; for the other Gorgons will do their utmost to take vengeance for Medusa's death.
  • Extract from : « The Gorgon's Head » by Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • It is a wonder that the sparks did not fly, the Devil struck so hard on the hot iron.
  • Extract from : « Quaint Courtships » by Various
  • She fortunately caught them, but then the handkerchiefs began to fly.
  • Extract from : « The Dream » by Emile Zola
  • It made Tom fly, but it took the stiffening all out of my legs.
  • Extract from : « Tom Sawyer Abroad » by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
  • They are to us like the sun and moon and stars, to which we cannot fly.
  • Extract from : « Green Mansions » by W. H. Hudson
  • "They haven't the strength to protect a fly," John whispered to his neighbour.
  • Extract from : « The Foolish Lovers » by St. John G. Ervine

Synonyms for fly

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019