fair / favorable
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fair / graceful
An increasingly archaic, poetic expression for graceful, lovely, or charming. It describes a beauty that is delicate and enchanting.
Im Märchen wird die Prinzessin oft als holde Jungfrau beschrieben.
In fairy tales, the princess is often described as a fair maiden.
to be favorable
An archaic expression meaning to be well-disposed or favorable toward someone.
Das Schicksal war ihm heute nicht hold.
Fate was not favorable to him today.
'Hold' (fair/graceful) is an archaic and poetic word. You find it almost exclusively in fairy tales, poems, or old texts. It is not used in modern everyday language.
Der Dichter beschrieb die Landschaft als hold und lieblich.
The poet described the landscape as fair and lovely.
In its poetic meaning of 'anmutig' (graceful) or 'lieblich' (lovely), 'hold' is usually connected with feminine nouns or positive impressions. Typical examples are 'holde Maid' (fair maiden), 'holdes Lächeln' (lovely smile), or 'holde Gestalt' (graceful figure).
Der Prinz verliebte sich sofort in die holde Maid.
The prince immediately fell in love with the fair maiden.
The expression 'jemandem hold sein' means that fate or a higher power is favorably disposed toward a person. The person who has the luck is always in the dative.
Das Glück war ihm bei der Prüfung nicht hold.
Luck was not favorable to him in the exam.
benevolent
Hold and wohlwollend can both express a friendly or favorable attitude toward a person or thing. Hold belongs to an increasingly archaic, poetic expression, whereas wohlwollend is common in modern formal and general German. In a standard text, wohlwollend is therefore usually the better choice.
Der König war dem Dichter hold und hörte seine Bitte geduldig an.
The king was favorably disposed toward the poet and listened patiently to his request.
Die Bürgermeisterin war dem Dichter wohlwollend und hörte seine Bitte geduldig an.
The mayor was favorably disposed toward the poet and listened patiently to his request.
