feint

American  

[feynt] / feɪnt /

noun

1. a movement made in order to deceive an adversary; an attack aimed at one place or point merely as a distraction from the real place or point of attack.

   military feints; the feints of a skilled fencer.

2. a feigned or assumed appearance.

   His air of approval was a feint to conceal his real motives.

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verb (used without object)

feints, present (3rd person singular) feinted, past participle, past feinting present participle

1. to make a feint.

   He feinted left, then struck his opponent with a roar.

verb (used with object)

feints, present (3rd person singular) feinted, past participle, past feinting present participle

1. to make a feint at; deceive with a feint.

2. to make a false show of; simulate.

feint ¹ British  

/ feɪnt /

noun

1. a mock attack or movement designed to distract an adversary, as in a military manoeuvre or in boxing, fencing, etc

2. a misleading action or appearance

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verb

1. (intr) to make a feint

feint ² British  

/ feɪnt /

noun

1. printing the narrowest rule used in the production of ruled paper

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Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has feinted
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have feinted
  perfect
• am feinting
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been feinting
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• feinting
  participle
• are feinting
  progressive
• is feinting
  progressive 3rd person singular
• feints
  singular 3rd person
• have been feinting
  perfect progressive

Past

• had feinted
  perfect
• were feinting
  progressive plural
• was feinting
  progressive singular
• had been feinting
  perfect progressive
• feinted
  simple
• feinted
  participle

Future

• will feint
  simple
• will have feinted
  perfect
• will have been feinting
  perfect progressive
• will be feinting
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of feint

First recorded in 1670–80; from French feinte, from Old French feinte “fabrication,” noun use of feminine of feint “pretended,” past participle of feindre; see origin at feign

Explanation

Did you ever tell your parents you were going off to school, grabbed your book bag, and headed out the door...only to spend the rest of the day hanging out with your friends? Well, that was a feint, a super sneaky move designed to fool someone. Although military and political tactics are big on feints, their most common use is probably in sports — particularly boxing, where opponents are continually trying to fake each other out. As in Dundee's account of an Ali-Frazier match: "Ali feinted with a jab, and Frazier threw one of his own, missing." Not to be confused with faint, meaning "weak or feeble." However, a feint can be deliberately faint, as Ali knew and Frazier found out when the real right hook made contact.

Example Sentences

He was itching to. get back on his own Firebolt and try out the Wronski Feint.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling

For the Irish Seeker had suddenly gone into a dive, and Harry was quite sure that this was no Wronski Feint; this was the real thing.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling

At the Time you make a Half-thrust or Feint, you must make a little Beat with the Foot, bearing back the Body to break your Adversary's Measure.

From The Art of Fencing The Use of the Small Sword by Mahon, Andrew

Feint, feint, crack! and Hector's sword went flying from his hand.

From The Dueling Machine by Bova, Ben

If he makes a Feint in order to return in Tierce, you must either parry or take the Time as I have said.6th.

From The Art of Fencing The Use of the Small Sword by Mahon, Andrew

Related Words

• ruse