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Entry 12 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Fetch

/(fĕch; 224)/ · IPA /fɛt͡ʃ/
01 v. t. To bear toward the person speaking, or the person or thing from whose point of view the action is contemplated; to go and bring; to get.
imp. & p. p. Fetched
  1. 1.
    To bear toward the person speaking, or the person or thing from whose point of view the action is contemplated; to go and bring; to get.
    “Time will run back and fetch the age of gold.” — Milton.
    “He called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch it he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.” — 1 Kings xvii. 11, 12.
  2. 2.
    To obtain as price or equivalent; to sell for.
    “Our native horses were held in small esteem, and fetched low prices.” — Macaulay.
  3. 3.
    To recall from a swoon; to revive; -- sometimes with to; as, to fetch a man to.
    “Fetching men again when they swoon.” — Bacon.
  4. 4.
    To reduce; to throw.
    “The sudden trip in wrestling that fetches a man to the ground.” — South.
  5. 5.
    To bring to accomplishment; to achieve; to make; to perform, with certain objects; as, to fetch a compass; to fetch a leap; to fetch a sigh.
    “I'll fetch a turn about the garden.” — Shak.
    “He fetches his blow quick and sure.” — South.
  6. 6.
    To bring or get within reach by going; to reach; to arrive at; to attain; to reach by sailing.
    “Meantine flew our ships, and straight we fetched The siren's isle.” — Chapman.
  7. 7.
    To cause to come; to bring to a particular state.
    “They could n't fetch the butter in the churn.” — W. Barnes.
Phrases & compounds
To fetch a compass — to make a circuit; to take a circuitous route going to a place.
To fetch a pump — to make it draw water by pouring water into the top and working the handle.
To fetch headway — to move ahead or astern.
To fetch out — to develop.
To fetch up — To overtake.
02 v. i. To bring one's self; to make headway; to veer; as, to fetch about; to fetch to windward.
  1. 1.
    To bring one's self; to make headway; to veer; as, to fetch about; to fetch to windward.
Phrases & compounds
To fetch away — to break loose; to roll or slide to leeward.
To fetch and carry — to serve obsequiously, like a trained spaniel.
03 n. A stratagem by which a thing is indirectly brought to pass, or by which one thing seems intended and another is done; a trick; an artifice.
  1. 1.
    A stratagem by which a thing is indirectly brought to pass, or by which one thing seems intended and another is done; a trick; an artifice.
    “Every little fetch of wit and criticism.” — South.
  2. 2.
    The apparation of a living person; a wraith.
    “The very fetch and ghost of Mrs. Gamp.” — Dickens.
  3. 3.
    The unobstructed region of the ocean over which the wind blows to generate waves.
  4. 4.
    The length of such a region.
Phrases & compounds
Fetch candle — a light seen at night, superstitiously believed to portend a person's death.