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faint

 - 8 dictionary results

faint

   [feynt] adjective,-er, -est, verb, noun
–adjective
1.
lacking brightness, vividness, clearness, loudness, strength, etc.: a faint light; a faint color; a faint sound.
2.
feeble or slight: faint resistance; faint praise; a faint resemblance.
3.
feeling weak, dizzy, or exhausted; about to lose consciousness: faint with hunger.
4.
lacking courage; cowardly; timorous: Faint heart never won fair maid.
5.
Law. unfounded: a faint action.
–verb (used without object)
6.
to lose consciousness temporarily.
7.
to lose brightness.
8.
Archaic. to grow weak; lose spirit or courage.
–noun
9.
a temporary loss of consciousness resulting from a decreased flow of blood to the brain; a swoon: to fall into a faint.
Use faint in a Sentence
Origin:
1250–1300; ME < AF, OF, ptp. of faindre, var. of feindre to feign

—Related forms
fainter, noun
faint·ing·ly, adverb
faintish, adjective
faint·ish·ness, noun
faintly, adverb
faintness, noun
o·ver·faint, adjective
o·ver·faint·ly, adverb
o·ver·faint·ness, noun
un·faint·ing, adjective
un·faint·ly, adverb

—Can be confused: fain, faint, feign, feint.

—Synonyms
1. indistinct, ill-defined, dim, faded, dull, 2. faltering, irresolute, weak. 3. languid. 4. pusillanimous, fearful, timid, dastardly. 6. pass out, black out.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To faint
Word Origin & History

faint
c.1300, "wanting in courage," now mostly in faint-hearted (mid-15c.), from O.Fr. faint "soft, weak, sluggish," pp. of faindre "avoid one's duty by pretending" (see feign). Sense of "weak, feeble" is early 14c. Meaning "producing a feeble impression upon the senses" is from 1650s. The verb originally meant "to lose heart" (mid-14c.); sense of "swoon" is c.1400. Related: Fainted; fainting.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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faint   (fānt)   
adj.   faint·er, faint·est

  1. Lacking strength or vigor; feeble.

  2. Lacking conviction, boldness, or courage; timid.

    1. Lacking brightness: a faint light in the gloom.

    2. Lacking clarity or distinctness: a faint recollection.

  4. Likely to fall into a faint; dizzy and weak: felt faint for a moment.

n.  An abrupt, usually brief loss of consciousness, generally associated with failure of normal blood circulation. See Synonyms at blackout.
intr.v.   faint·ed, faint·ing, faints

  1. To fall into a usually brief state of unconsciousness.

  2. Archaic To weaken in purpose or spirit.


[Middle English, deceitful, cowardly, from Old French, past participle of feindre, to feign; see feign.]
faint'er n., faint'ly adv., faint'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1faint
Pronunciation: 'fAnt
Function: adjective
: weak, dizzy, and likely to faint

Main Entry: 2faint
Function: intransitive verb
: to lose consciousness because of a temporary decrease in the blood supply to the brain

Main Entry: 3faint
Function: noun
: the physiological action of fainting; also : the resulting condition : SYNCOPE
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source

faint (fānt)
n.
An abrupt, usually brief loss of consciousness; an attack of syncope. adj.
Extremely weak; threatened with syncope.

faint v.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Idioms & Phrases

faint

see damn with faint praise.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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