Old English fægernes "beauty;" see fair (adj.) + -ness. Meaning "even-handedness, impartiality" is from mid-15c. Meaning "lightness of complexion" is from 1590s.
the judge recognized the fairness of my claim
fair
fairground
fairing
fairly
fair-minded
fairness
fair-spoken
fairway
fairy
fairyland
fairy-tale
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