Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - fawn

 I. intransitive verb  Etymology: Middle English faunen, from Old English fagnian to rejoice, from f?gen, fagan glad — more at fain  Date: 13th century  1. to show affection — used especially of a dog  2. to court favor by a cringing or flattering manner  • ~er noun  • ~ingly adverb Synonyms:  ~, toady, truckle, cringe, cower mean to behave abjectly before a superior. ~ implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention waiters ~ing over a celebrity. toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude toadying to his boss. truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior truckling to a powerful lobbyist. cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility a cringing sycophant. cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people cowering before a bully.  II. noun  Etymology: Middle English foun, from Anglo-French feun, foon young of an animal, from Vulgar Latin *feton-, feto, from Latin fetus offspring — more at fetus  Date: 14th century  1. a young deer; especially one still unweaned or retaining a distinctive baby coat  2. kid 1  3. a light grayish brown  • ~y adjective