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fainthearted

[feynt-hahr-tid]
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adjective
  1. lacking courage; cowardly; timorous.
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Origin of fainthearted

First recorded in 1400–50, fainthearted is from the late Middle English word feynt hertyd. See faint, hearted
Related formsfaint·heart·ed·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

afraid, cowardly, fearful, frightened, gutless, intimidated, lily-livered, meek, mousy, spineless, weak, yellow, cowed, cowering, unassertive, wimpy

Examples from the Web for fainthearted

Historical Examples

  • “Woe unto him that is fainthearted,” says the son of Sirach.

    Self-Help

    Samuel Smiles

  • Surely some amongst us are too fainthearted about the truth.

  • If we are so fainthearted now what should we have been before the Reformation?

  • I ricommend to you, trusting to God, and putting down all misgivings and fainthearted feelin's.

    The Deerslayer

    James Fenimore Cooper

  • The word rendered "fainthearted" is only used in this single passage; yet every one knows what it means.