Dictionary

faint en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• (General-American) audio
• /feɪnt/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English faynt, feynt (“weak; feeble”), from Old French faint, feint (“feigned; negligent; sluggish”), past participle of feindre, faindre (“to feign; sham; work negligently”), from Latin fingere (“to touch, handle, form, shape, frame, form in thought, imagine, conceive, contrive, devise, feign”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeyǵʰ- (“to mold”). Cognate with feign and fiction and more distantly dough.

Meanings

1. (of a being) Lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to lose consciousness
   • He almost fell faint due to the hot climate.
   • I felt faint after my fifth gin and tonic.
2. Lacking courage, spirit, or energy; cowardly; dejected.
   • Faint heart ne'er won fair lady. 1789, Robert Burns, to Dr. Blacklock:
3. Barely perceptible; not bright, or loud, or sharp.
   • There was a faint red light in the distance.
4. Performed, done, or acted, weakly; not exhibiting vigor, strength, or energy.
   • They damned the latest book with faint praise.
   • faint resistance
   • faint efforts
5. Slight; minimal.
   • a faint chance
   • do you have the faintest understanding of what they mean? 2005, Plato, translated by Lesley Brown, Sophist, page 243b:
6. (archaic) Sickly, so as to make a person feel faint.
   • Happening to pass a fruiterer’s on their way; the door of which was open, though the shop was by this time shut; one of them remarked how faint the peaches smelled. 1843, Charles Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit:

Forms

Deriveds

faintly · praise with faint damns · damn with faint praise · faint heart never won fair maiden · faintness · fainthood · forfaint · overfaint · faintling · faintward · ultrafaint · fainthearted · faintheart · faint-hearted · faint-heart · faint of heart · faintish · faint heart never won fair lady · fainten

Synonyms

uncolorful · wan · unholiday · dull · remote · lackluster · colourless · muddy · sober · bland · leaden · dingy · dizzy · dull · faint · dim · sad · wan

Translations (130)

fr craintif (wanting in courage) · mi maiangi (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · ca feble (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · ru сла́бый (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · bg немощен (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · eu geldo (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · it incerto (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · eo malforta (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · ja 弱々しい (performed in a weak or feeble manner) · sv svag (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · sv vek (wanting in courage) · mi muhani (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · bg неотчетлив (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · nl zwak (performed in a weak or feeble manner) · el αχνός (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · ru вя́лый (performed in a weak or feeble manner) · de ängstlich (wanting in courage) · it pavido (wanting in courage) · fr faible (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · pt pávido (wanting in courage) · pt débil (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · ko 심약하다 (wanting in courage) · ja 淡い (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · ko 가냘프다 (performed in a weak or feeble manner) · mi tōriki (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · hi मंद (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · unm nùktihëleamàlsi (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · mi hīrea (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · ja 気が弱い (wanting in courage) · mi hauaitu (wanting in courage) · hi शक्तिहीन (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · hi फीका (performed in a weak or feeble manner) · sv klen (wanting in courage) · sv svag (wanting in courage) · sv vek (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · ko 가냘프다 (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · it debole (performed in a weak or feeble manner) · mi hauaitu (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · cs chabý (performed in a weak or feeble manner) · cs slabý (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · nl zwak (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · sv svag (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · oc feble (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · it debole (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · mi whekowheko (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · es mortecino (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · ja 気の弱い (wanting in courage) · bg плах (wanting in courage) · mi hauhauaitu (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · bg неясен (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · it tenue (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · cs slabý (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · pt tênue (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · de unentschlossen (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · ca dèbil (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · it timoroso (wanting in courage) · ru слабоне́рвный (wanting in courage) · hy տկար (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · ro slăbit (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · cs malátný (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · oc debil (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · sv kraftlös (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · hi फीका (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · es tenue (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · gl feble (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · ky талуу (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · cs vlažný (performed in a weak or feeble manner) · fr faible (performed in a weak or feeble manner) · sv klen (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · mi tōririki (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · pt lânguido (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · ca tènue (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · ca feble (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · he כהה (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · es tenue (performed in a weak or feeble manner) · ky эсинен тануу (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · ro slab (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · ja 弱々しい (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · de unsicher (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · ky эси ооп жыгылып калуу (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · pam bunsul (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · ro estompat (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · oc feble (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · ru ту́склый (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · ota مخمور (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · mi porepore (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · nl zwak (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · fi heikko (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · fi heikko (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · it indistinto (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · fr faire un malaise (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · es apocado (performed in a weak or feeble manner) · mi makaro (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · ky талып калуу (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · fi pelkurimainen (wanting in courage) · mi maiengi (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · de schwach (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · es débil (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · fr faible (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · es lánguido (performed in a weak or feeble manner) · cs nepřesvědčivý (performed in a weak or feeble manner) · el αχνός (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · fi hämärä (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · ru сла́бый (wanting in courage) · cmn 微弱 (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · oc flac (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · sv feg (wanting in courage) · pt tênue (performed in a weak or feeble manner) · sv svag (performed in a weak or feeble manner) · es apagado (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · it perdere i sensi (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · uk тьмя́ний (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · ro slab (performed in a weak or feeble manner) · nl zwak (wanting in courage) · bg слаб (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · ja かすか (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · it debole (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · ko 흐릿하다 (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · es apenas perceptible (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · cs sotva patrný (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · es leve (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · fr timoré (wanting in courage) · mi hauhauaitu (wanting in courage) · fi heiveröinen (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · es apenas visible (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · de kraftlos (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · is daufur (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible) · sk mdlý (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · ky эс оош (lacking strength; inclined to lose consciousness) · fi vaimea (lacking distinctness, hardly perceptible)

faint en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• (General-American) audio
• /feɪnt/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English faynt, feynt (“weak; feeble”), from Old French faint, feint (“feigned; negligent; sluggish”), past participle of feindre, faindre (“to feign; sham; work negligently”), from Latin fingere (“to touch, handle, form, shape, frame, form in thought, imagine, conceive, contrive, devise, feign”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeyǵʰ- (“to mold”). Cognate with feign and fiction and more distantly dough.

Meanings

1. The act of fainting, syncope.
   • She suffered another faint.
2. (rare) The state of one who has fainted; a swoon.

Forms

Deriveds

faintless · faintsome · faintful

Translations (45)

bg припадане (the act of fainting) · sv svimning (the act of fainting) · ga laige (the act of fainting) · cs mrákoty (the state of one who has fainted) · ar إِغْمَاء (the act of fainting) · ru о́бморок (the act of fainting) · da besvimelse (the act of fainting) · cy llewygfa (the act of fainting) · lt alpulys (the state of one who has fainted) · cy llewyg (the act of fainting) · ja 失神 (the state of one who has fainted) · pt badagaio (the act of fainting) · pt chilique (the act of fainting) · fi pyörtymys (the state of one who has fainted) · hi मूर्छा (the act of fainting) · tr baygınlık (the state of one who has fainted) · gl desmaio (the act of fainting) · ja 失神 (the act of fainting) · ro sincopă (the act of fainting) · pt desmaio (the state of one who has fainted) · es soponcio (the act of fainting) · ru о́бморок (the state of one who has fainted) · pt desmaio (the act of fainting) · es desmayo (the act of fainting) · bg припадък (the state of one who has fainted) · tr bayılma (the act of fainting) · ca desmai (the act of fainting) · de Ohnmacht (the act of fainting) · ka გულის წასვლა (the act of fainting) · gl pasamento (the act of fainting) · it svenimento (the act of fainting) · fi pyörtyminen (the act of fainting) · es deliquio (the act of fainting) · grc λιποθυμία (the act of fainting) · ro leșin (the act of fainting) · cs ztráta vědomí (the act of fainting) · el λιποθυμία (the act of fainting) · de Ohnmacht (the state of one who has fainted) · cmn 昏厥 (the act of fainting) · cs mdloba (the state of one who has fainted) · es patatús (the act of fainting) · gd neul (the state of one who has fainted) · lt nualpimas (the act of fainting) · tr saka (the act of fainting) · fr évanouissement (the act of fainting)

faint en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• (General-American) audio
• /feɪnt/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English fainten, feynten, from the adjective (see above).

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To lose consciousness through a lack of oxygen or nutrients to the brain, usually as a result of suddenly reduced blood flow (may be caused by emotional trauma, loss of blood or various medical conditions).
   • If I send them away fasting […] they will faint by the way. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Mark 8:8:
   • A fainting fit.
   • But upon hearing the Honour which he intended her , she fainted away , and fell down as Dead at his Feet 1713 September 22, Richard Steele, The Guardian, number 167:
2. (intransitive) To lose courage or spirit; to become depressed or despondent.
   • If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs 24:10:
3. (intransitive) To decay; to disappear; to vanish.
   • November 12, 1711, Alexander Pope, letter to Henry Cromwell Gilded clouds, while we gaze upon them, faint before the eye.

Forms

Deriveds

fainty · faintingness · faintingly · afaint · fainting goat · unfainting

Synonyms

swoon (to lose consciousness) · keel over (to lose consciousness) · black out (to lose consciousness) · sweb (to lose consciousness) · pass out (to lose consciousness) · queal

Translations (120)

hu elájul (to lose consciousness) · cmn 昏過去 /昏过去 (to lose consciousness) · fi pyörtyä (to lose consciousness) · grc μικροψυχέω (to lose consciousness) · ar غُشِيَ (to lose consciousness) · uk млі́ти (to lose consciousness) · fo svíma (to lose consciousness) · ajp غمي (to lose consciousness) · is missa meðvitund (to lose consciousness) · pt desmaiar (to lose consciousness) · id pingsan (to lose consciousness) · sh onesvestiti (to lose consciousness) · sl onesvestiti se (to lose consciousness) · fi menettää tajuntansa (to lose consciousness) · ajp أُغْمِي (to lose consciousness) · ko 실신하다 (to lose consciousness) · ru потеря́ть созна́ние (to lose consciousness) · km សន្លប់ (to lose consciousness) · grc λιποθυμάω (to lose consciousness) · th เป็นลม (to lose consciousness) · mi tirehe (to sink) · io esvanar (to lose consciousness) · ru упа́сть в о́бморок (to lose consciousness) · pap bai leu (to lose consciousness) · cmn 發暈 /发晕 (to lose consciousness) · da falde i svime (to lose consciousness) · cmn 昏倒 (to lose consciousness) · vi ngất (to lose consciousness) · ru па́дать в о́бморок (to lose consciousness) · shi sxf (to lose consciousness) · lt nualpti (to lose consciousness) · sh onesvijestiti (to lose consciousness) · ajp أُغْمِي (to lose consciousness) · oc s'estavanir (to lose consciousness) · yi חלשן (to lose consciousness) · gl esmorir (to lose consciousness) · cy llewygu (to lose consciousness) · ro leșina (to lose consciousness) · grc ἀποψύχω (to lose consciousness) · sq zalit (to lose consciousness) · fr s'évanouir (to lose consciousness) · fr pâmer (to lose consciousness) · gl esvaer (to lose consciousness) · wa tchaire fwebe (to lose consciousness) · kea desmaiá (to lose consciousness) · he הִתְעַלֵּף (to lose consciousness) · ary سخف (to lose consciousness) · swb uɓama (to lose consciousness) · tl himatayin (to lose consciousness) · zdj uvuɓama (to lose consciousness) · chr ᎤᎸᏖᎭ (to lose consciousness) · nb besvime (to lose consciousness) · ta மயங்கு (to lose consciousness) · ru теря́ть созна́ние (to lose consciousness) · ajp يُغْمى (to lose consciousness) · nl flauwvallen (to lose consciousness) · grc λιποψυχέω (to lose consciousness) · enm swelten (to lose consciousness) · pl omdleć (to lose consciousness) · de ohnmächtig werden (to lose consciousness) · lt alpti (to lose consciousness) · es desmayar (to lose consciousness) · pl zemdleć (to lose consciousness) · gd rach an neul (to lose consciousness) · ajp أُغْمى (to lose consciousness) · sv svimma (to lose consciousness) · ca desmaiar-se (to lose consciousness) · tr bayılmak (to lose consciousness) · mnc ᠯᡳᠶᡝᠯᡳᠶᡝᠮᠪᡳ (to lose consciousness) · egy Q3-G40-A-O34:D12 (to lose consciousness) · gl desvanecer (to lose consciousness) · ca acubar-se (to lose consciousness) · et minestama (to lose consciousness) · nrf s'êvanni (to lose consciousness) · el λιποθυμώ (to lose consciousness) · ota بایلمق (to lose consciousness) · uk неприто́мніти (to lose consciousness) · mi tirehe (to lose consciousness) · vi xỉu (to lose consciousness) · pl mdleć (to lose consciousness) · de in Ohnmacht fallen (to lose consciousness) · cs omdlévat (to lose consciousness) · sl omedleti (to lose consciousness) · gl desmaiar (to lose consciousness) · eo sveni (to lose consciousness) · ja 失神する (to lose consciousness) · uk зомліва́ти (to lose consciousness) · fi sammua (to lose consciousness) · da besvime (to lose consciousness) · nl bezwijmen (to lose consciousness) · ajp يُغْمى (to lose consciousness) · cmn 暈厥 /晕厥 (to lose consciousness) · ajp أُغْمى (to lose consciousness) · oc abautir (to lose consciousness) · gl esvaecer (to lose consciousness) · is líða yfir (to lose consciousness) · it svenire (to lose consciousness) · th สลบ (to lose consciousness) · uk знеприто́мніти (to lose consciousness) · ajp غمي (to lose consciousness) · mi hauaitu (to lose consciousness) · hy նվաղել (to lose consciousness) · kea dismaia (to lose consciousness) · la intermorior (to lose consciousness) · uk зомлі́ти (to lose consciousness) · ky байылуу (to lose consciousness) · ar أُغْمِيَ (to lose consciousness) · hi मूर्छा (to lose consciousness) · nn svima av (to lose consciousness) · lt apalpti (to lose consciousness) · ms pengsan (to lose consciousness) · wa toumer flåwe (to lose consciousness) · cs omdlít (to lose consciousness) · mi hauhauaitu (to lose consciousness) · pdt beschwiemen (to lose consciousness) · nn dåna (to lose consciousness) · sl omedlevati (to lose consciousness) · ga tit i laige (to lose consciousness) · gl esmaiar (to lose consciousness) · bg припадам (to lose consciousness)