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.
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- to lose consciousness temporarily.
- to lose brightness.
- Archaic. to grow weak; lose spirit or courage.
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- a temporary loss of consciousness resulting from a decreased flow of blood to the brain; a swoon: to fall into a faint.
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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
Related Words
easily, delicately, casually, tenderly, moderately, gingerly, softly, simply, mildly, freely, quietly, slightly, sparsely, faintly, subtly, smoothly, gently, comparatively, practically, seldomExamples from the Web for faintly
Contemporary Examples
The facts are not faintly controversial for those who believe in reality: vaccination saves lives, families, and dollars.
If you listened closely during the bleep, you could faintly hear Jacqueline Bissett still giving her speech.
Golden Globes Recap: All the Best, Weirdest Moments You (May Have) MissedKevin Fallon
January 13, 2014
Maybe this is The Matrix (the first one that was faintly intelligible) after all.
How do you get that “faintly falling,” that transcendent rhythm?
With the thin, vertical scar down his right cheek, the general effect was faintly piratical.
Historical Examples
She was faintly, agreeably surprised to notice that she was speaking the truth.
The Incomplete AmoristE. Nesbit
She must be seen, sir—seen—to be ever so faintly appreciated.
The Life And Adventures Of Nicholas NicklebyCharles Dickens
Once or twice she delighted him by faintly smiling a response to his speeches.
Southern Lights and ShadowsVarious
She merely looked up at Coryston, motionless, faintly smiling.
The Coryston FamilyMrs. Humphry Ward
She smiled at him faintly, nodding her head as though to keep pace with her thoughts.
The AvengerE. Phillips Oppenheim
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
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- to lose consciousness, esp momentarily, as through weakness
- archaic, or poetic to fail or become weak, esp in hope or courage
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- a sudden spontaneous loss of consciousness, usually momentary, caused by an insufficient supply of blood to the brainTechnical name: syncope
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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
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Word Origin and History for faintly
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.
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faint
v.
"grow weak" (c.1300); "lose heart" (mid-14c.); see faint (adj.). Sense of "swoon" is c.1400. Related: Fainted; fainting.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
faint
(fānt)- An abrupt, usually brief loss of consciousness; an attack of syncope.
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- Extremely weak; threatened with syncope.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with faintly
faint
see damn with faint praise.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.