fab

prop. n. A large natural family of trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs bearing bean pods; divided for convenience into the subfamilies Caesalpiniacea; Mimosaceae; Papilionaceae.
Syn. -- Leguminosae, family Leguminosae, family Fabaceae, legume family, pea family. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. fabaceus, fr. faba bean. ] Having the nature of a bean; like a bean. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Fabellae [ NL., dim. of L. faba a bean. ] (Anat.) One of the small sesamoid bones situated behind the condyles of the femur, in some mammals. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A member of, or sympathizer with, the Fabian Society. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ L. Fabianus, Fabius, belonging to Fabius. ] Of, pertaining to, or in the manner of, the Roman general, Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus; cautious; dilatory; avoiding a decisive contest. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fabian policy, a policy like that of Fabius Maximus, who, by carefully avoiding decisive contests, foiled Hannibal, harassing his army by marches, countermarches, and ambuscades; a policy of delays and cautions. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to the Roman gens Fabia. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. Designating, or pertaining to, a society of socialists, organized in England in 1884 to spread socialistic principles gradually without violent agitation.

The Fabian Society proposes then to conquer by delay; to carry its programme, not by a hasty rush, but through the slower, but, as it thinks, surer methods of patient discussion, exposition, and political action. William Clarke. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. a genus of South and Central American heathlike evergreen shrubs.
Syn. -- genus Fabiana. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. the principles and beliefs of or similar to those of the Fabian Society, advocating socialism to be established by gradual reforms within the law. [ British ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]