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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.

Origin:
1250–1300; ME < AF, OF, ptp. of faindre, var. of feindre to feign

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

fain, faint, feign, feint.


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.
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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.

  3. 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.
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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.
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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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