faineant
ni
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To faineant
00:10
Faineant
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
fainéant (ˈfeɪnɪənt, French fɛneɑ̃) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a lazy person; idler |
| —adj | |
| 2. | indolent |
| [C17: from French, modification of earlier fait-nient (he) does nothing, by folk etymology from Old French faignant shirker, from faindre to be lazy] | |
| 'faineance | |
| —n | |
| 'faineancy | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
faineant
1610s (n.), from Fr. fainéant (16c.) do-nothing, from fait, third person singular present tense of faire + néant nothing (cf. dolce far niente). As an adj., from 1855.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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