Faint

Pronunciation

• IPA: /feɪ̯nt/
• Rhymes: -eɪnt
• Homophones: feint

Origin

From Middle English, from Old French feindre, faindre ("to feign, to sham, to work negligently"), from Latin fingere ("to touch, handle, usually form, shape, frame, form in thought, imagine, conceive, contrive, devise, feign").

Full definition of faint

Adjective

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."Faint heart ne'er won fair lady." Robert Burns - To Dr. Blackjack.
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.
• Sir J. Daviesthe faint prosecution of the war
• 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. .do you have the faintest understanding of what they mean?

Derived terms

• damn with faint praise

Noun

1. The act of fainting.
2. (rare) The state of one who has fainted; a swoon.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To lose consciousness. Caused by a lack of oxygen or nutrients to the brain, usually as a result of a suddenly reduced blood flow (may be caused by emotional trauma, loss of blood or various medical conditions).
• Bible, Mark viii. 8If I send them away fasting ... they will faint by the way.
• GuardianHearing the honour intended her, she fainted away.
2. To sink into dejection; to lose courage or spirit; to become depressed or despondent.
• Bible, Proverbs xxiv. 10If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
3. To decay; to disappear; to vanish.
• Alexander PopeGilded clouds, while we gaze upon them, faint before the eye.

Synonyms

• pass out
• queal
• swoon

Anagrams

• Fanti
• fitna