Fencing

(fën's ing.) [Fr. défense, from O. L. fen sus.] (Calisthenics.) The art or practice of making skilful use ofa sword or foil, either in attack or defence. In learning this art, foils, or thin flexible swords, are used, which, being blunted or covered at the points with a cork or button, and bending readily, prevent any harm being done.-(Agric.) A system of fences, such as protect a road, railway, .; also, the collective material used in making fences for fields, . Fenders, (fend'ŭrz.) [From Fr. défendre, to protect.] (Naut.) Pieces of old cable, wooden billets, ., suspended over a ship's sides, to prevent injury from chafing by contact with other ve els, piers, . Fénelon, (fin a-lon(g,) FRANÇOIS DE SALIGNAC DE LA MOTHE, a distinguished French ecclesiastic and author, B. in Périgord, of a noble family, in 1651, received his education in Paris, and entered the priesthood in1675. After acting for several years as superior of a seminary for the instruction of converts, F. was sent, in 1685, on a mi ion of conversion to the Protestants of Poitou, and four years later was appointed preceptor to Louis XIV.'s grandson, the Duke of Burgundy, which position he filled with so much zeal and ability as to gain the favor of Louis and of Madame de Main ten on. In 1693, he entered the Academy, and two years afterward was ordained Archbishop of Cambrai. F.'s sympathy with the Guyonists brought him into controversial collision with Bo uet (q. v.), and his Explication des Maximes des Saints (1697), into disgrace with the king, who dismi ed him from court. In 1699 appeared Les Aventures de Télémaqus, a work which alone will perpetuate his name. D.1715. [s. 1]