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A complete or ridiculous failure, esp. of a musical performance, or of any pretentious undertaking.

To possess and perform the duties of; to officiate in, as an incumbent; to occupy; to hold; as, a king fills a throne; the president fills the office of chief magistrate; the speaker of the House fills the chair.

The last composition performed in any act of an opera.

To perform on an instrument of music.

-- Fire dog. See Firedog, in the Vocabulary. -- Fire drill. (a) A series of evolutions performed by fireman for practice. (b) An apparatus for producing fire by friction, by rapidly twirling a wooden pin in a wooden socket; -- used by the Hindoos during all historic time, and by many savage peoples. -- Fire eater.…

Actually in preparation, execution, or performance; carried on hotly; raging. A war the most powerful of the native tribes was flagrant. Palfrey.

Something made or performed in a fanciful, wanton, or vaunting manner, by way of ostentation, to excite admiration, etc.; ostentatious embellishment; ambitious copiousness or amplification; parade of wordas, a flourish of rhetoric or of wit. He lards with flourishes his long harangue. Dryden.

A performer on the flute; a flautist. Busby.

fixed upon while in motion; to keep the mind upon while in progress, as a speech, musical performance, etc.; also, to keep up with; to understand the meaning, connection, or force of, as of a course of thought or argument. He followed with his eyes the flitting shade. Dryden.

Indicating that instead of which something else controls in the performing of an action, or that in spite of which anything is done, occurs, or is; hence, equivalent to notwithstanding, in spite of; -- generally followed by all, aught, anything, etc. The writer will do what she please for all me. Spectator. God's deser…

selected, usually from volunteers, to attempt a breach, scale the wall of a fortress, or perform other extraordinarily perilous service; also, a desperate case or enterprise.

Obtained or performed by artifice; as, fraudulent conquest. Milton.

), such feudal services as were not unbecoming the character of a soldier or a freemen to perform; as, to serve under his lord in war, to pay a sum of money, etc. Burrill. -- Free ships, ships of neutral nations, which in time of war are free from capture even though carrying enemy's goods. -- Free socage (O.Eng. Law…

Frostily. [Obs.] The parching air Burns frore, and cold performs the effect of fire. Milton.

A musician who composes or performs fugues. Busby.

n intention, promise, or prophecy, a desire, prayer, or requirement, etc.; to complete by performance; to answer the requisitions of; to bring to pass, as a purpose or design; to effectuate. He will, fulfill the desire of them fear him. Ps. cxlv. 199. Here Nature seems fulfilled in all her ends. Milton. Servants must t…

Execution; performance; as, the fulfillment of a promise.

Performing like a ropedancer. Chambers.

The act of executing or performing any duty, office, or calling; per formance. "In the function of his public calling." Swift.

To execute or perform a function; to transact one's regular or appointed business.