faint
[feynt]
- lacking brightness, vividness, clearness, loudness, strength, etc.: a faint light; a faint color; a faint sound.
- feeble or slight: faint resistance; faint praise; a faint resemblance.
- feeling weak, dizzy, or exhausted; about to lose consciousness: faint with hunger.
- lacking courage; cowardly; timorous: Faint heart never won fair maid.
- Law. unfounded: a faint action.
Show More
- to lose consciousness temporarily.
- to lose brightness.
- Archaic. to grow weak; lose spirit or courage.
Show More
- a temporary loss of consciousness resulting from a decreased flow of blood to the brain; a swoon: to fall into a faint.
Show More
Origin of faint
1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French, past participle of faindre, variant of feindre to feign
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com1. 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 Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for fainted
Contemporary Examples
He fainted several times in the courtroom, yet the judge refused to allow doctors in the courtroom.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015Movements.Org
December 25, 2014
When he expresses concern over her bruised and disheveled appearance, she lies and tells him that she fainted.
How Downton Abbey's Joanne Froggatt Navigated Anna's Controversial Rape ArcKevin Fallon
August 14, 2014
A House of Lords spokesman refused to identify which of the boys had fainted.
He was in very horrible condition, and I fainted onto the tarmac and had a head injury that resulted in a concussion.
But once there, the men drugged Northup—he was not intoxicated, he said—and after a night of agony he fainted.
The ‘12 Years a Slave’ Book Shows Slavery As Even More Appalling Than In the FilmJimmy So
October 18, 2013
Historical Examples
If you had not fainted so quickly, then I should have told you what I must tell you now.
Green MansionsW. H. Hudson
Dick rushed to him at once, but he saw that he had only fainted from loss of blood.
The Rock of ChickamaugaJoseph A. Altsheler
I suppose I fainted, for when I opened my eyes I was all alone.
The Comrade In WhiteW. H. Leathem
When the curtain slowly rose I thought I should have fainted.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
While dressing I fainted three times, but I was determined to play quand-mme.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
faint
- lacking clarity, brightness, volume, etca faint noise
- lacking conviction or force; weakfaint praise
- feeling dizzy or weak as if about to lose consciousness
- without boldness or courage; timid (esp in the combination faint-hearted)
- not the faintest, not the faintest idea or not the faintest notion no idea whatsoeverI haven't the faintest
Show More
- to lose consciousness, esp momentarily, as through weakness
- archaic, or poetic to fail or become weak, esp in hope or courage
Show More
- a sudden spontaneous loss of consciousness, usually momentary, caused by an insufficient supply of blood to the brainTechnical name: syncope
Show More
Word Origin
C13: from Old French, from faindre to be idle
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for fainted
faint
adj.
c.1300, "wanting in courage," now mostly in faint-hearted (mid-15c.), from Old French feint "soft, weak, sluggish," past participle of feindre "hesitate, falter, be indolent, show weakness, 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.
Show More
faint
v.
"grow weak" (c.1300); "lose heart" (mid-14c.); see faint (adj.). Sense of "swoon" is c.1400. Related: Fainted; fainting.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
faint
(fānt)- An abrupt, usually brief loss of consciousness; an attack of syncope.
Show More
- Extremely weak; threatened with syncope.
Show More
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with fainted
faint
see damn with faint praise.
Show More
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.