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

• have feinted
  perfect
• has feinted
  perfect 3rd person singular
• 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

You may also put upon him the double or single Feint, or having bound your Sword without, you may give in your Thrust, as in playing the single Feint at the Head.

From The School of Recreation (1696 edition) Or a Guide to the Most Ingenious Exercises of Hunting, Riding, Racing, Fireworks, Military Discipline, The Science of Defence by Howlett, Robert

At last, Zadig, in order to recover his Breath, for a Moment or two stood still, and afterwards, making a Feint at the Prince, threw him on his Back, and disarm’d him.

From Zadig Or, The Book of Fate by Voltaire

Seconde ought not be pushed, but on the following Occasions: First, when an Engagement, Feint or Half-Thrust, is made without, that the Adversary at one of these Times parrys high.

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

Related Words

• ruse