Emily Dickinson Lexicon

FARE, v.i. [Sax. faran, Goth. faran, to go; D. vaaren; G. fahren; Sw. fara; Dan. farer. This word may be connected in origin with the Heb. Ch. Syr. Sam. עבר, Ar. عَبَرَ abara, to go, to pass; or with اَفَرَ afara, to pass, or pass over, which seems to be radically the same word as نَفَرَ nafara, to flee. This coincides with the Eth. ወፈረ wafar, to go, to pass, Gr. πορευω, Ir. bara. Class Br, No, 23, 37, 41.]

1. To go; to pass; to move forward; to travel. So on he fares, and to the border comes / Of Eden. Milton. [In this literal sense the word is not in common use.]
2. To be in any state, good or bad; to be attended with any circumstances or train of events, fortunate or unfortunate. So fares the stag among th' enraged hounds. Denham. So fared the knight between two foes. Hudibras. He fared very well; he fared very ill. Go further and fare worse. The sense is taken from going, having a certain course; hence, being subjected to a certain train of incidents. The rich man fared sumptuously every day. He enjoyed all the pleasure which wealth and luxury could afford. Luke xvi.
3. To feed; to be entertained. We fared well; we had a good table, and courteous treatment.
4. To proceed in a train of consequences, good or bad. So fares it when with truth falsehood contends. Milton.
5. To happen well or ill; with it impersonally. We shall see how it will fare with him.