feint
[feynt]
- 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.
- a feigned or assumed appearance: His air of approval was a feint to conceal his real motives.
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- to make a feint.
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- to make a feint at; deceive with a feint.
- to make a false show of; simulate.
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Origin of feint
1275–1325; Middle English < Old French feinte, noun use of feminine of feint pretended, past participle of feindre to feign
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for feinted
Contemporary Examples
Incurring the wrath of the nihilists early, he feinted right.
They feinted a mimic—like Gore, Romney strode to the podium across the convention floor.
Romney’s Lame Speech Might Have Gone Better Had He Learned From Bush 1 and Al GoreRobert Shrum
September 1, 2012
The candidates, clearly worried about going too far, feinted and jabbed but threw no hard punches.
Historical Examples
For some moments he feinted and lunged, seeking an opening, however slight.
The StrollersFrederic S. Isham
Just as before, Sutton feinted and saw his opening and swung.
Once to Every ManLarry Evans
Again Conway drove him into a corner of the ropes, feinted for the stomach.
Once to Every ManLarry Evans
The Battler feinted, swaying his body from side to side, and came at him.
Spring StreetJames H. Richardson
Brion feinted and the Lig-magte's arm moved clear of his body.
Planet of the DamnedHarry Harrison
feint1
- a mock attack or movement designed to distract an adversary, as in a military manoeuvre or in boxing, fencing, etc
- a misleading action or appearance
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- (intr) to make a feint
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Word Origin
C17: from French feinte, from feint pretended, from Old French feindre to feign
feint2
- printing the narrowest rule used in the production of ruled paper
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Word Origin
C19: variant of faint
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 feinted
feint
n.
1670s, "a false show, a pretended blow," from French feinte "a feint, sham," abstract noun from Old French feint (13c.) "false, deceitful," originally fem. past participle of feindre (see feign).
Borrowed late 13c. as adjective, but now obsolete in that sense. Also as a noun in Middle English with sense "false-heartedness" (early 14c.), also "bodily weakness" (c.1400).
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feint
v.
c.1300, feinten, "to deceive, pretend," also "become feeble or exhausted; to lack spirit or courage," from feint (adj.); see feint (n.). Cf. Old French feintir "be slow, delay." Sense of "to make a sham attack" is first attested 1833. Related: Feinted; feinting.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper