fanatic
         adj 1: marked by excessive enthusiasm for and intense devotion
                  to a cause or idea; "rabid isolationist" [syn: {fanatic},
                  {fanatical}, {overzealous}, {rabid}]
         n 1: a person motivated by irrational enthusiasm (as for a
               cause); "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and
               won't change the subject"--Winston Churchill [syn:
               {fanatic}, {fiend}]

English Dictionary: fantastic	by the DICT Development Group
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fanatical adj marked by excessive enthusiasm for and intense devotion to a cause or idea; "rabid isolationist" Synonym(s): fanatic, fanatical, overzealous, rabid
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fanatically adv in a passionately fanatic manner; "he followed the teachings of his guru fanatically"
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fanaticism n excessive intolerance of opposing views [syn: fanaticism, fanatism, zealotry]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fanatism n excessive intolerance of opposing views [syn: fanaticism, fanatism, zealotry]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fantasia n a musical composition of a free form usually incorporating several familiar themes
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fantasise v indulge in fantasies; "he is fantasizing when he says he plans to start his own company" Synonym(s): fantasy, fantasize, fantasise portray in the mind; "he is fantasizing the ideal wife" Synonym(s): fantasize, fantasise
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fantasist n a creator of fantasies
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fantasize v indulge in fantasies; "he is fantasizing when he says he plans to start his own company" Synonym(s): fantasy, fantasize, fantasise portray in the mind; "he is fantasizing the ideal wife" Synonym(s): fantasize, fantasise
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fantasm n a ghostly appearing figure; "we were unprepared for the apparition that confronted us" Synonym(s): apparition, phantom, phantasm, phantasma, fantasm, specter, spectre something existing in perception only; "a ghostly apparition at midnight" Synonym(s): apparition, phantom, phantasm, phantasma, fantasm, shadow
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fantast n someone who predicts the future [syn: fantast, futurist]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fantastic adj ludicrously odd; "Hamlet's assumed antic disposition"; "fantastic Halloween costumes"; "a grotesque reflection in the mirror" Synonym(s): antic, fantastic, fantastical, grotesque extraordinarily good or great ; used especially as intensifiers; "a fantastic trip to the Orient"; "the film was fantastic!"; "a howling success"; "a marvelous collection of rare books"; "had a rattling conversation about politics"; "a tremendous achievement" Synonym(s): fantastic, grand, howling(a), marvelous, marvellous, rattling(a), terrific, tremendous, wonderful, wondrous fanciful and unrealistic; foolish; "a fantastic idea of his own importance" Synonym(s): fantastic, wild existing in fancy only; "fantastic figures with bulbous heads the circumference of a bushel"- Nathaniel Hawthorne Synonym(s): fantastic, fantastical extravagantly fanciful in design, construction, appearance; "Gaudi's fantastic architecture"
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fantastical adj existing in fancy only; "fantastic figures with bulbous heads the circumference of a bushel"- Nathaniel Hawthorne Synonym(s): fantastic, fantastical ludicrously odd; "Hamlet's assumed antic disposition"; "fantastic Halloween costumes"; "a grotesque reflection in the mirror" Synonym(s): antic, fantastic, fantastical, grotesque
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fantastically adv exceedingly; extremely; "she plays fabulously well" [syn: fabulously, fantastically, incredibly]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fantasy n imagination unrestricted by reality; "a schoolgirl fantasy" Synonym(s): fantasy, phantasy fiction with a large amount of imagination in it; "she made a lot of money writing romantic fantasies" Synonym(s): fantasy, phantasy something many people believe that is false; "they have the illusion that I am very wealthy" Synonym(s): illusion, fantasy, phantasy, fancy v indulge in fantasies; "he is fantasizing when he says he plans to start his own company" Synonym(s): fantasy, fantasize, fantasise
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fantasy life n an imaginary life lived in a fantasy world [syn: {fantasy life}, phantasy life]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fantasy world n something existing solely in the imagination (but often mistaken for reality) Synonym(s): fantasy world, phantasy world, fairyland
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
femtochemistry n the branch of chemistry that studies elementary (often very fast) chemical reactions as they occur; the experimental methods are often based on the use of femtosecond laser pulses
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
femtosecond n one quadrillionth (10^-15) of a second; one thousandth of a picosecond
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fiendish adj extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell; "something demonic in him--something that could be cruel"; "fires lit up a diabolic scene"; "diabolical sorcerers under the influence of devils"; "a fiendish despot"; "hellish torture"; "infernal instruments of war"; "satanic cruelty"; "unholy grimaces" Synonym(s): demonic, diabolic, diabolical, fiendish, hellish, infernal, satanic, unholy
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fiendishly adv as a devil; in an evil manner; "his writing could be diabolically satiric" Synonym(s): diabolically, devilishly, fiendishly
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fin de siecle adj relating to or characteristic of the end of a century (especially the end of the 19th century); "fin de siecle art"
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fine-textured adj having a smooth, fine-grained structure [syn: {fine- textured}, smooth-textured]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
font cartridge n any font that is contained in a cartridge that can be plugged into a computer printer Synonym(s): font cartridge, cartridge font
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Fuentes n Mexican novelist (born in 1928) [syn: Fuentes, {Carlos Fuentes}]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fumed oak n oak given a weathered appearance by exposure to fumes of ammonia; used for cabinetwork
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
funds n assets in the form of money [syn: funds, finances, monetary resource, cash in hand, pecuniary resource]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
fundus n (anatomy) the base of a hollow organ or that part of the organ farthest from its opening; "the uterine fundus"; "the fundus of the stomach"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Faint \Faint\ (f[amac]nt), a. [Compar. {Fainter} (-[etil]r);       superl. {Faintest}.] [OE. feint, faint, false, faint, F.       feint, p. p. of feindre to feign, suppose, hesitate. See       {Feign}, and cf. {Feint}.]       1. Lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to swoon; as,             faint with fatigue, hunger, or thirst.          2. Wanting in courage, spirit, or energy; timorous; cowardly;             dejected; depressed; as, [bd]Faint heart ne'er won fair             lady.[b8] --Old Proverb.          3. Lacking distinctness; hardly perceptible; striking the             senses feebly; not bright, or loud, or sharp, or forcible;             weak; as, a faint color, or sound.          4. Performed, done, or acted, in a weak or feeble manner; not             exhibiting vigor, strength, or energy; slight; as, faint             efforts; faint resistance.                         The faint prosecution of the war.      --Sir J.                                                                               Davies.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Faintish \Faint"ish\, a.       Slightly faint; somewhat faint. -- {Faint"ish*ness}, n.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Faintish \Faint"ish\, a.       Slightly faint; somewhat faint. -- {Faint"ish*ness}, n.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Faints \Faints\, n.pl.       The impure spirit which comes over first and last in the       distillation of whisky; -- the former being called the strong       faints, and the latter, which is much more abundant, the weak       faints. This crude spirit is much impregnated with fusel oil.       --Ure.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fanatic \Fa*nat"ic\, a. [L. fanaticus inspired by divinity,       enthusiastic, frantic, fr. fanum fane: cf. F. fanatique. See       {Fane}.]       Pertaining to, or indicating, fanaticism; extravagant in       opinions; ultra; unreasonable; excessively enthusiastic,       especially on religious subjects; as, fanatic zeal; fanatic       notions.                   But Faith, fanatic Faith, once wedded fast To some dear                falsehood, hugs it to the last.               --T. Moore.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fanatic \Fa*nat"ic\, n.       A person affected by excessive enthusiasm, particularly on       religious subjects; one who indulges wild and extravagant       notions of religion.                   There is a new word, coined within few months, called                fanatics, which, by the close stickling thereof,                seemeth well cut out and proportioned to signify what                is meant thereby, even the sectaries of our age.                                                                               --Fuller                                                                               (1660).                   Fanatics are governed rather by imagination than by                judgment.                                                --Stowe.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fanatical \Fa*nat"ic*al\, a.       Characteristic of, or relating to, fanaticism; fanatic.       -{Fa*nat"ic*al*ly}, adv. -- {Fa*nat"ic*al*ness}, n.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fanatical \Fa*nat"ic*al\, a.       Characteristic of, or relating to, fanaticism; fanatic.       -{Fa*nat"ic*al*ly}, adv. -- {Fa*nat"ic*al*ness}, n.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fanatical \Fa*nat"ic*al\, a.       Characteristic of, or relating to, fanaticism; fanatic.       -{Fa*nat"ic*al*ly}, adv. -- {Fa*nat"ic*al*ness}, n.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fanaticism \Fa*nat"i*cism\, n. [Cf. {Fanatism}.]       Excessive enthusiasm, unreasoning zeal, or wild and       extravagant notions, on any subject, especially religion;       religious frenzy.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fanaticize \Fa*nat"i*cize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fanaticized};       p. pr. & vb. n. {Fanaticizing}.]       To cause to become a fanatic.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fanaticize \Fa*nat"i*cize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fanaticized};       p. pr. & vb. n. {Fanaticizing}.]       To cause to become a fanatic.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fanaticize \Fa*nat"i*cize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Fanaticized};       p. pr. & vb. n. {Fanaticizing}.]       To cause to become a fanatic.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fanatism \Fan"a*tism\, n. [Cf. F. fanatisme. Cf. {Fanaticism}.]       Fanaticism. [R.] --Gibbon.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantasia \Fan*ta"si*a\, n. [It. See {Fancy}.] (Mus.)       A continuous composition, not divided into what are called       movements, or governed by the ordinary rules of musical       design, but in which the author's fancy roves unrestricted by       set form.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantasied \Fan"ta*sied\, a. [From {Fantasy}.]       Filled with fancies or imaginations. [Obs.] --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantasy \Fan"ta*sy\, n.; pl. {Fantasies}. [See {Fancy}.]       1. Fancy; imagination; especially, a whimsical or fanciful             conception; a vagary of the imagination; whim; caprice;             humor.                         Is not this something more than fantasy ? --Shak.                         A thousand fantasies Being to throng into my memory.                                                                               --Milton.          2. Fantastic designs.                         Embroidered with fantasies and flourishes of gold                      thread.                                             --Hawthorne.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Phantasm \Phan"tasm\, n. [L. phantasma. See {Phantom}, and cf.       {Fantasm}.] [Spelt also {fantasm}.]       1. An image formed by the mind, and supposed to be real or             material; a shadowy or airy appearance; sometimes, an             optical illusion; a phantom; a dream.                         They be but phantasms or apparitions. --Sir W.                                                                               Raleigh.          2. A mental image or representation of a real object; a             fancy; a notion. --Cudworth.                         Figures or little features, of which the description                      had produced in you no phantasm or expectation.                                                                               --Jer. Taylor.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantasm \Fan"tasm\, n. [See {Phantasm}, {Fancy}.]       Same as {Phantasm}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Phantasm \Phan"tasm\, n. [L. phantasma. See {Phantom}, and cf.       {Fantasm}.] [Spelt also {fantasm}.]       1. An image formed by the mind, and supposed to be real or             material; a shadowy or airy appearance; sometimes, an             optical illusion; a phantom; a dream.                         They be but phantasms or apparitions. --Sir W.                                                                               Raleigh.          2. A mental image or representation of a real object; a             fancy; a notion. --Cudworth.                         Figures or little features, of which the description                      had produced in you no phantasm or expectation.                                                                               --Jer. Taylor.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantasm \Fan"tasm\, n. [See {Phantasm}, {Fancy}.]       Same as {Phantasm}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantast \Fan"tast\, n.       One whose manners or ideas are fantastic. [R.] --Coleridge.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantastic \Fan*tas"tic\, a. [F. fantastique, fr. Gr.       [?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?] able to represent, fr.       [?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?][?] to make visible. See {Fancy}.]       1. Existing only in imagination; fanciful; imaginary; not             real; chimerical.          2. Having the nature of a phantom; unreal. --Shak.          3. Indulging the vagaries of imagination; whimsical; full of             absurd fancies; capricious; as, fantastic minds; a             fantastic mistress.          4. Resembling fantasies in irregularity, caprice, or             eccentricity; irregular; oddly shaped; grotesque.                         There at the foot of yonder nodding beech, That                      wreathes its old fantastic roots so high. --T. Gray.          Syn: Fanciful; imaginative; ideal; visionary; capricious;                chimerical; whimsical; queer. See {Fanciful}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantastic \Fan*tas"tic\, n.       A person given to fantastic dress, manners, etc.; an       eccentric person; a fop. --Milton.                   Our fantastics, who, having a fine watch, take all                ocasions to drow it out to be seen.         --Fuller.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantastical \Fan*tas"tic*al\, a.       Fanciful; unreal; whimsical; capricious; fantastic.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantasticality \Fan*tas`ti*cal"i*ty\, n.       Fantastically. [Obs.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantastically \Fan*tas"tic*al*ly\, adv.       In a fantastic manner.                   the letter A, in scarlet, fantastically embroidered                with gold thread, upon her bosom.            --Hawthorne.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantastic-alness \Fan*tas"tic-al*ness\, n.       The quality of being fantastic.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantasticism \Fan*tas"ti*cism\, n.       The quality of being fantastical; fancifulness; whimsicality.       --Ruskin.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantasticly \Fan*tas"tic*ly\, adv.       Fantastically. [Obs.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantasticness \Fan*tas"tic*ness\, n.       Fantasticalness. [Obs.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantasy \Fan"ta*sy\, n.; pl. {Fantasies}. [See {Fancy}.]       1. Fancy; imagination; especially, a whimsical or fanciful             conception; a vagary of the imagination; whim; caprice;             humor.                         Is not this something more than fantasy ? --Shak.                         A thousand fantasies Being to throng into my memory.                                                                               --Milton.          2. Fantastic designs.                         Embroidered with fantasies and flourishes of gold                      thread.                                             --Hawthorne.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantasy \Fan"ta*sy\, v. t.       To have a fancy for; to be pleased with; to like; to fancy.       [Obs.] --Cavendish.                   Which he doth most fantasy.                     --Robynson                                                                               (More's                                                                               Utopia).
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantigue \Fan*tigue"\, Fantique \Fan*tique"\, n. [Written also       {fanteague}, {fanteeg}, etc.] [Cf. {Fantod}.]       State of worry or excitment; fidget; ill humor. [Prov. Eng.]       --Dickens.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantigue \Fan*tigue"\, Fantique \Fan*tique"\, n. [Written also       {fanteague}, {fanteeg}, etc.] [Cf. {Fantod}.]       State of worry or excitment; fidget; ill humor. [Prov. Eng.]       --Dickens.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantigue \Fan*tigue"\, Fantique \Fan*tique"\, n. [Written also       {fanteague}, {fanteeg}, etc.] [Cf. {Fantod}.]       State of worry or excitment; fidget; ill humor. [Prov. Eng.]       --Dickens.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fantigue \Fan*tigue"\, Fantique \Fan*tique"\, n. [Written also       {fanteague}, {fanteeg}, etc.] [Cf. {Fantod}.]       State of worry or excitment; fidget; ill humor. [Prov. Eng.]       --Dickens.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
d8Femme \[d8]Femme\ (? [or] ?), n. [F.]       A woman. See {Feme}, n.          {Femme de chambre}. [F.] A lady's maid; a chambermaid.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fen \Fen\, n. [AS. fen, fenn, marsh, mud, dirt; akin to D. veen,       OFries. fenne, fene, OHG. fenna, G. fenn, Icel. fen, Goth.       fani mud.]       Low land overflowed, or covered wholly or partially with       water, but producing sedge, coarse grasses, or other aquatic       plants; boggy land; moor; marsh.                   'Mid reedy fens wide spread.                  --Wordsworth.          Note: Fen is used adjectively with the sense of belonging to,                or of the nature of, a fen or fens.          {Fen boat}, a boat of light draught used in marshes.          {Fen duck} (Zo[94]l.), a wild duck inhabiting fens; the             shoveler. [Prov. Eng.]          {Fen fowl} (Zo[94]l.), any water fowl that frequent fens.          {Fen goose} (Zo[94]l.), the graylag goose of Europe. [Prov.             Eng.]          {Fen land}, swamp land.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fiants \Fi"ants\, n. [F. fiente dung.]       The dung of the fox, wolf, boar, or badger.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fiendish \Fiend"ish\, a.       Like a fiend; diabolically wicked or cruel; infernal;       malignant; devilish; hellish. -- {Fiend"ish*ly}, adv. --       {Fiend"ish*ness}, n.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fiendish \Fiend"ish\, a.       Like a fiend; diabolically wicked or cruel; infernal;       malignant; devilish; hellish. -- {Fiend"ish*ly}, adv. --       {Fiend"ish*ness}, n.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fiendish \Fiend"ish\, a.       Like a fiend; diabolically wicked or cruel; infernal;       malignant; devilish; hellish. -- {Fiend"ish*ly}, adv. --       {Fiend"ish*ness}, n.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
d8Fomes \[d8]Fo"mes\, n.; pl. {Fomites}. [L. fomes, -itis,       touch-wood, tinder.] (Med.)       Any substance supposed to be capable of absorbing, retaining,       and transporting contagious or infectious germs; as, woolen       clothes are said to be active fomites.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fond \Fond\, a. [Compar. {Fonder}; superl. {Fondest}.] [For       fonned, p. p. of OE. fonnen to be foolish. See {Fon}.]       1. Foolish; silly; simple; weak. [Archaic]                         Grant I may never prove so fond To trust man on his                      oath or bond.                                    --Shak.          2. Foolishly tender and loving; weakly indulgent;             over-affectionate.          3. Affectionate; loving; tender; -- in a good sense; as, a             fond mother or wife. --Addison.          4. Loving; much pleased; affectionately regardful, indulgent,             or desirous; longing or yearning; -- followed by of             (formerly also by on).                         More fond on her than she upon her love. --Shak.                         You are as fond of grief as of your child. --Shak.                         A great traveler, and fond of telling his                      adventures.                                       --Irving.          5. Doted on; regarded with affection. [R.]                         Nor fix on fond abodes to circumscribe thy prayer.                                                                               --Byron.          6. Trifling; valued by folly; trivial. [Obs.] --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fumade \Fu*made"\, Fumado \Fu*ma"do\, n.; pl. {Fumades},       {Fumadoes}. [Sp. fumodo smoked, p. p. of fumar to smoke, fr.       L. fumare. See {Fume}, v. i.]       A salted and smoked fish, as the pilchard.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fumade \Fu*made"\, Fumado \Fu*ma"do\, n.; pl. {Fumades},       {Fumadoes}. [Sp. fumodo smoked, p. p. of fumar to smoke, fr.       L. fumare. See {Fume}, v. i.]       A salted and smoked fish, as the pilchard.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fumed oak \Fumed oak\ (Cabinetwork)       Oak given a weathered appearance by exposure in an air-tight       compartment to fumes of ammonia from uncorked cans, being       first given a coat of filler.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Fumitez \Fu"mi*tez`\, n. (Bot.)       Fumitory. [Obs.]
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Fannettsburg, PA       Zip code(s): 17221
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
fine adjuster          A tool used for {percussive       maintenance}, also known as a "hammer".          (1999-01-15)
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
Finite State Automata          {Finite State Machine}
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
Finite State Automaton          {Finite State Machine}
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
Finite State Machine          (FSM or "Finite State       Automaton", "transducer") An {abstract machine} consisting of       a set of {states} (including the initial state), a set of       input events, a set of output events, and a state transition       function.   The function takes the current state and an input       event and returns the new set of output events and the next       state.   Some states may be designated as "terminal states".       The state machine can also be viewed as a function which maps       an ordered sequence of input events into a corresponding       sequence of (sets of) output events.          A {deterministic} FSM (DFA) is one where the next state is       uniquely determinied by a single input event.   The next state       of a {nondeterministic} FSM (NFA) depends not only on the       current input event, but also on an arbitrary number of       subsequent input events.   Until these subsequent events occur       it is not possible to determine which state the machine is in.          It is possible to automatically translate any nondeterministic       FSM into a deterministic one which will produce the same       output given the same input.   Each state in the DFA represents       the set of states the NFA might be in at a given time.          In a probabilistic FSM [proper name?], there is a       predetermined {probability} of each next state given the       current state and input (compare {Markov chain}).          The terms "acceptor" and "transducer" are used particularly in       language theory where automata are often considered as       {abstract machines} capable of recognising a language (certain       sequences of input events).   An acceptor has a single       {Boolean} output and accepts or rejects the input sequence by       outputting true or false respectively, whereas a transducer       translates the input into a sequence of output events.          FSMs are used in {computability theory} and in some practical       applications such as {regular expressions} and digital logic       design.          See also {state transition diagram}, {Turing Machine}.          [J.H. Conway, "regular algebra and finite machines", 1971, Eds       Chapman & Hall].          [S.C. Kleene, "Representation of events in nerve nets and       finite automata", 1956, Automata Studies. Princeton].          [Hopcroft & Ullman, 1979, "Introduction to automata theory,       languages and computations", Addison-Wesley].          [M. Crochemore "tranducters and repetitions",       Theoritical. Comp. Sc. 46, 1986].          (2001-09-22)