Fresh, a. [Compar. Fresher (; superl. Freshest.]
Etymology: [OE. fresch, AS. fersc; akin to D. versch, G. frisch, OHG. frisc, Sw. frisk, Dan. frisk, fersk, Icel. fr frisky, brisk, ferskr fresh; cf. It. fresco, OF. fres, freis, fem. freske, fresche, F. frais, fem. fra, which are of German origin. Cf. Fraischeur, Fresco, Frisk.]
1. Possessed of original life and vigor; new and strong; unimpaired; sound.
2. New; original; additional. "Fear of fresh mistakes." Sir W. Scott. A fresh pleasure in every fresh posture of the limbs. Landor.
3. Lately produced, gathered, or prepared for market; not stale; not dried or preserved; not wilted, faded, or tainted; in good condition; as, fresh vegetables, flowers, eggs, meat, fruit, etc.; recently made or obtained; occurring again; repeated; as, a fresh supply of goods; fresh tea, raisins, etc.; lately come or made public; as, fresh news; recently taken from a well or spring; as, fresh water.
4. Youthful; florid; as, these fresh nymphs. Shak.
4 more senses
5. In a raw, green, or untried state; uncultivated; uncultured; unpracticed; as, a fresh hand on a ship.
6. Renewed in vigor, alacrity, or readiness for action; as, fresh for a combat; hence, tending to renew in vigor; rather strong; cool or brisk; as, a fresh wind.
7. Not salt; as, fresh water, in distinction from that which is from the sea, or brackish; fresh meat, in distinction from that which is pickled or salted. Fresh breeze (Naut.), a breeze between a moderate and a strong breeze; one blowinq about twenty miles an hour. -- Fresh gale, a gale blowing about forty-five miles an hour. -- Fresh way (Naut.), increased speed.
Syn. -- Sound; unimpaired; recent; unfaded: ruddy; florid; sweet; good: inexperienced; unpracticed: unused; lively; vigorous; strong.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Fresh, n.; pl. Freshes (.
1. A stream or spring of fresh water. He shall drink naught but brine; for I'll not show him Where the quick freshes are. Shak.
2. A flood; a freshet. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
3. The mingling of fresh water with salt in rivers or bays, as by means of a flood of fresh water flowing toward or into the sea. Beverly.
Fresh, v. t.
To refresh; to freshen. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for fresh; he lists it under new.
Where he writes about it:
Young and youthful are applied to that which has life; that which is young is possessed of a comparatively new existence as a living thing, possessing actual youth; that which is youthful manifests the attributes of youth. (Compare youthful.) Fresh applies to that which has the characteristics of newness or youth, while capable of deterioration by lapse of time; that which is unworn, unspoiled, or unfaded; as, a fresh countenance, fresh eggs, fresh flowers. — from new