Fie
/faɪ/noun
An archaic exclamation expressing disgust, disapproval, or outrage.
Did you know?“Fie” appears frequently in Shakespeare as a dramatic verbal rebuke, including the famous command “Fie, fie!” in Macbeth.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin or Romance period
Vulgar Latin
fi
“An exclamation of disgust or disapproval; its ultimate origin is uncertain and may be expressive.”
Medieval period
Old French
fi
“An interjection expressing contempt, disgust, or moral rejection.”
12th–13th Century
Anglo-Norman French
fi
“A borrowed exclamation used to condemn or reject something.”
Late 13th Century
Middle English
fie
“An exclamation of disgust, impatience, or reproach.”
16th–17th Century
Early Modern English
fie
“A forceful theatrical or literary rebuke, often repeated for emphasis.”
Modern English
English
fie
“An archaic expression of disapproval, surviving mainly in historical, poetic, and dramatic language.”