faintn.
/feɪnt/, U.S. /feɪnt/ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > [noun] > weakness
faintise1297
weaknessa1300
faintc1320
feebleness1340
languishingc1384
lamea1400
unferea1400
unferenessa1400
unwielda1400
impotence1406
imbecility?a1425
languisha1425
languoringa1438
unwieldness1437
faintnessa1440
impotency1440
infirmityc1440
debility1484
unlustiness1486
resolution1547
unwieldiness1575
languishment1576
infirmness1596
weakness1603
prostrationa1626
exolution1634
languidness1634
prosternation1650
faintingnessa1661
debilitude1669
flaccidity1676
atony1693
puniness1727
faintishness1733
adynamia1743
asthenia1802
adynamy1817
weakliness1826
tonelessness1873
atonicity1900
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > physical insensibility > unconsciousness > [noun] > fainting or swooning > feeling about to
faintc1320
abatec1500
faintness1526
faintingnessa1661
faintiness1683
faintishness1733
c1320 Sir Beues 4195 Beues for ffeynt bere hym lowe.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 13477 If þai turn ham þair wai, For þe faint sone faile sal þai.
c1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 8814 For pure feint right now she sank.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) cxx. 430 Huon..was sore wery for faynt, for the blude that he had loste.
a1542 T. Wyatt Coll. Poems (1969) xcviii. 90 My hope..stumblith straite, for feble faint.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. iv. xli. 165 Wearied with travaile, and faint of his woundes.
2. A swoon.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > physical insensibility > unconsciousness > [noun] > fainting or swooning > a faint or swoon
swimeOE
swooningc1290
swowa1325
swooningc1330
swoon1390
soundc1400
trancec1405
sweamc1415
swoundc1440
sweltingc1460
swarf1488
dwalm?a1513
sounding ecstasy?1565
sounding1580
pasme1591
death1596
lipothymy1603
deliquium1620
delique1645
fainting fit1714
drow1727
faint-fit1795
faint1808
blacking out1930
blackout1934
greyout1942
pass-out1946
1808 W. Scott Marmion iv. xvi. 203 The Saint, Who propped the Virgin in her faint.
1865 L. Oliphant Piccadilly (1870) 280 In a dead faint.
1885 R. L. Stevenson & F. Stevenson Dynamiter 45 The night..found me still where he had laid me during my faint.
Compounds
faint-fit n. = fainting-fit.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > physical insensibility > unconsciousness > [noun] > fainting or swooning > a faint or swoon
swimeOE
swooningc1290
swowa1325
swooningc1330
swoon1390
soundc1400
trancec1405
sweamc1415
swoundc1440
sweltingc1460
swarf1488
dwalm?a1513
sounding ecstasy?1565
sounding1580
pasme1591
death1596
lipothymy1603
deliquium1620
delique1645
fainting fit1714
drow1727
faint-fit1795
faint1808
blacking out1930
blackout1934
greyout1942
pass-out1946
1795 ‘P. Pindar’ Pindariana 181 Without a scream, a faint-fit, or a kick.
1892 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words Dwalm, a slight illness, a faint fit.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
faintadj.
/feɪnt/, U.S. /feɪnt/ I. Feigned, pretended.† 1.
a. Feigned, pretended, simulated. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > dissimulation, pretence > [adjective]
fainta1340
counterfeit1393
pretense1395
feinta1400
feigned1413
disguisyc1430
colourable1433
pretending1434
simulate1435
dissimuled1475
simulative1490
coloureda1500
dissimulate?a1500
simuled1526
colorate1528
dissembled1539
mock1548
devised1552
pretended?1553
artificial1564
supposed1566
counterfeited1569
supposing?1574
affecteda1586
pretensive1607
false1609
supposite1611
simulara1616
simulatory1618
simulated1622
put-ona1625
ironic1631
ironical1646
devisable1659
pretensional1659
pretenced1660
pretensory1663
vizarded1663
shammed?c1677
sham1681
faux1684
fictitious1739
ostensible1762
made-up1773
mala fide1808
assumed1813
semblative1814
fictioned1820
pretextual1837
pseudo1854
fictive1855
schlenter1881
faked1890
phoney1893
phantom1897
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xl. 6 Vayn thynge & faynt spak his hert.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 19535 Þar-for tok he [sc. Simon Magus] baptim faint.
c1440 York Myst. xxix. 229 A faynte frend myght he þer fynde.
1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 72v He that loueth the with feynt loue.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 12591 Þo lyghers..forget a faint tale vnder fals colour.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 93 And finished the sayde peace with an assured othe..but it semed a faynt peace, for [etc.].
b. Law. faint action, faint pleading, etc.: = ‘feigned action’, etc.: see feigned adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > [noun] > a lawsuit > other types of action
mort d'ancestora1325
trespass on the case1429
action of detinue1467
mortancestry1471
replevin1515
non-finding1525
nisi prius1533
faint action1542
interpleadera1558
improbationc1575
assize1577
assumpsit1586
transitory action1594
trover1594
suit of the King's peace1607
detinuea1626
quia timet1628
choke-baila1637
reprobator1672
spulyie1678
petitory action1681
proprium1695
restitution of conjugal rights1720
amicable suit1768
noxal action1774
real action1818
witness action1892
class suit1894
non-jury1897
foreclosure action1905
class action1910
derivative action1934
paternity suit1945
1542–3 Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII c. 24 The saide Manour..to be recovered by fainte pleader, reddicion or other fraude or covyne.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Faynte accion, actio exermata.
1607 J. Cowell Interpreter sig. Dd4v/1 Faint pleader..signifieth..a false covenous, or collusory maner of pleading, to the deceipt of a third partie.
1641 Rastell's Termes de la Ley (new ed.) f. 154 Faint pleading is a covenous, false, and collusory manner of pleading to the deceit of a third party.
1672 T. Manley Νομοθετης: Cowell's Interpreter sig. Dd2vb Faynt alias Feynt Action..such an Action as though the words of the writ be true, yet for certain Causes he hath no Title to recover thereby, whereas in a false Action the words of the writ are false.
1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) V. 517 A feint title.
II. Sluggish, timid, feeble.† 2. Avoiding exertion, shirking, lazy, sluggish.absolute.1814 Ld. Byron Lara ii. x. 912 The fierce that vanquish, and the faint that yield.1870 W. C. Bryant tr. Homer Iliad I. iv. 120 He made the faint of spirit take their place.b.Proverb.?1569 W. Elderton Proper New Balad Ladie Marques Faint harts neuer win faire Ladies.a1640 P. Massinger Parl. of Love (1976) ii. iii. 131 All hells plagues light on the proverb That saies Faint hart—but it is stale.in extended use.1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxxxv Knowyng his treasorie..to bee so voyde and faint.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > [adjective]
sweerc725
foridledc1230
idlea1300
faintc1325
recrayed1340
slewful1340
nicea1398
sleuthya1400
delicate?c1400
sleuthfulc1400
slothfulc1400
sloth1412
lurdanc1480
luskinga1500
luskish15..
droning1509
bumbard?a1513
slottery1513
desidiousa1540
lazy1549
slovening1549
truanta1550
sleuth1567
litherly1573
truantly1579
dronish1580
lubberly1580
truant-like1583
shiftless1584
sluggard1594
fat1598
lusky1604
sweatless1606
clumse1611
easeful1611
loselly1611
do-littlea1613
sluggardisha1627
pigritious1638
drony1653
murcid1656
thokisha1682
shammockinga1704
indolent1710
huddroun1721
nothing-doing1724
desidiose1727
lusk1775
slack-twisted1794
sweert1817
bone-lazya1825
lurgy1828
straight-backed1830
do-nothing1832
slobbish1833
bone idle1836
slouch1837
lotophagous1841
shammocky1841
bein1847
thoky1847
lotus-eating1852
fainéant1855
sluggardly1865
lazy-boned1875
do-naught1879
easy-going1879
lazyish1892
slobbed1962
c1325 Coer de L. 2519 ‘Rowes on faste! who that is feynt, In evel water may he be dreynt!’
1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 5 He..had his thoughtes feint Towardes loves and full of slouthe.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 153 Feynt, segnis.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) i. vii. 33 The beys..fra thar hyve..Expellis..the faynt drone be.
1680 W. Temple Ess. Orig. & Nature of Govt. in Miscellanea 53 The spirits..are rendered faint and sluggish.
3. Wanting in courage, spiritless, cowardly. Obsolete or archaic except in faint heart (now associated with sense 4b).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > cowardice or pusillanimity > [adjective]
arghc885
heartlessOE
bloodlessc1225
coward1297
faintc1300
nesha1382
comfortless1387
pusillanimousa1425
faint-heartedc1440
unheartyc1440
cowardous1480
hen-hearteda1529
cowardish1530
feigningc1540
white-livered1546
cowardly1551
faceless1567
pusillanime1570
liver-hearted1571
cowish1579
cowardise1582
coward-like1587
faint-heart1590
courageless1593
sheep-like1596
white-hearted1598
milky1602
milk-livered1608
undaring1611
lily-livereda1616
yarrow1616
flightful1626
chicken-hearted1629
poltroon1649
cow-hearted1660
whey-blooded1675
unbravea1681
nimble-heeled1719
dunghill1775
shrimp-hearted1796
chicken-livered1804
white-feathered1816
pluckless1821
chicken-spirited1822
milk-blooded1822
cowardy1836
yellow1856
yellow-livered1857
putty-hearted1872
uncourageous1878
chicken1883
piker1901
yellow-bellied1907
manso1932
scaredy-cat1933
chickenshit1940
cold-footed1944
c1300 K. Alis. 7597 Haveth now non heorte feynte!
c1320 Sir Beues 1575 Ase he was mad & feint To Iesu Crist he made is pleint.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18081 A faint fighter me thinc er þou.
1414 T. Brampton Paraphr. Seven Penit. Psalms (1842) cxvi. 44 Myn herte is fals[e], feynt, and drye.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) viii. 184 Thoughe ye shold abyde behynde, as weke men and feynte.
c1515 Ld. Berners tr. Bk. Duke Huon of Burdeux (1882–7) lii. 177 Thou arte of a faynte corage.
a1593 H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 219 The faint spies that went to the land of Canaan.
1627 T. May tr. Lucan Pharsalia (1635) iii. 103 To send thee civill wars Having so faint a chiefe.
1702 N. Rowe Tamerlane i. i His Party..soon grew faint.
1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) III. 689 Faint heart never yet raised a trophy.
4. Wanting in strength or vigour.† a. Of persons or animals, their faculties or condition; also (rarely) of material agents: Weak, feeble; sickly, out of condition. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak
unmightyeOE
unferea1060
unwieldc1220
fade1303
lewc1325
weak1340
fainta1375
sicklyc1374
unwieldyc1386
impotent1390
delicatea1398
lowa1398
unmighta1450
unlustyc1450
low-brought1459
wearyc1480
failed1490
worn1508
caduke?1518
fainty1530
weak1535
debile1536
fluey1545
tewly?1547
faltering1549
puling1549
imbecilec1550
debilitate1552
flash1562
unable1577
unhealthful1595
unabled1597
whindling1601
infirm1608
debilitated1611
bedrid1629
washya1631
silly1636
fluea1645
tender1645
invaletudinary1661
languishant1674
valetudinaire?c1682
puly1688
thriftless1693
unheartya1699
wishy-washy1703
enervate1706
valetudinarian1713
lask1727
wersh1755
palliea1774
wankle1781
asthenic1789
atonic1792
squeal1794
adynamic1803
worn-down1814
totterish1817
asthenical1819
prostrate1820
used up1823
wankya1825
creaky1834
groggy1834
puny1838
imbeciled1840
rickety-rackety1840
muscleless1841
weedy1849
tottery1861
crocky1880
wimbly-wambly1881
ramshackle1889
twitterly1896
twittery1907
wonky1919
strung out1959
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 785 Febul wax he & faynt.
1399 W. Langland Richard Redeles iii. 88 With many ffair ffowle, þouȝ þey ffeynte were.
c1420 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 288 In bigger bowes fele, and fainter fewe Brannches doo traile.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) vii. vii. 74 Thy vile onweldy age, Ourset with hasart hair and faynt dotage.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms cxlii[i]. 7 My sprete waxeth faynte.
a1642 H. Best Farming & Memorandum Bks. (1984) 149 Barley strawe..is fownde..not altogeather so fainte as haver strawe.
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler 130 If I catch a Trout in one Meadow, he shall be white and faint . View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 102 If the Sire be faint, or out of case. View more context for this quotation
1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. iii. iv. 36 Where the scantiest or faintest Land-winds are found.
1764 T. Harmer Observ. Passages Script. iv. iv. 142 A very slow faint fire.
b. Of actions, wishes, purposes: Half-hearted, languid, feeble.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > [adjective] > lukewarm or lacking enthusiasm
coolOE
luke1340
tepid1513
lukewarmc1522
unearnest1542
spiritless1566
zeallessa1594
faint1596
unfiery1598
tepidous1607
Laodicean1633
heartless1636
unzealous1643
slight1660
unenthusiastic1805
teporous1821
coolish1850
ice-cool1891
demotivated1963
meh2007
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [adjective] > half-hearted
faint-heartedc1440
faint1596
half-hearted1611
faintling1712
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. vi. sig. F4 Turning his feare to faint deuotion. View more context for this quotation
1630 in J. A. Picton City of Liverpool: Select. Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 158 Many disorders growen..through..faint execucon of those lawes.
1640 W. Habington Hist. Edward IV 183 The King..dismist the Embassadors with some faint comfort.
1728 J. Veneer tr. Compan. Sincere Penitent Pref. 4 A faint..progress in..religion.
1734 A. Pope Epist. to Arbuthnot 201 Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 581 A faint show of opposition from one or two peers.
1863 F. A. Kemble Jrnl. Resid. Georgian Plantation 37 And found there had been some faint attempt at sweeping.
5. Producing a feeble impression on the senses or the mind; dim, indistinct, hardly perceptible: absolute.1840 R. Browning Sordello v. 417 Some first fact I' the faint of time.
a. of light, sound, odour.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > invisibility > [adjective] > indistinct
dimc1000
blinda1398
undistingued1398
obscure?a1450
undistinct1495
shadowed1588
undistinguishable1600
shady1626
blear1637
filmed1637
indistinguishable1642
crepusculous1646
adumbrated1650
oblite1650
faint1660
monogrammous1678
blurred1701
faintish1712
wispya1717
adumbrant1727
muzzy1744
indistinct1764
fuzzy1778
misty1797
shadowy1797
undistinguished1814
woolly1815
vague1822
furzy1825
mystified1833
slurred1843
feeble1860
smudginga1861
filmy1864
smudgy1865
blurry1884
slurry1937
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > faintness or weakness > [adjective]
smalleOE
stillc1000
softc1230
dim1398
lowc1400
obscure?a1450
basea1500
remiss1530
indistinct1589
demiss1646
faint1660
murmurant1669
faintish1712
slender1785
under1806
unclamorous1849
1660 R. Boyle New Exper. Physico-mechanicall 270 The sound grew fainter and fainter.
1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 84 By..Turpentine, &c. all those reflections are made more faint.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) at Vision Faint Vision is when a few Rays make up one Pencil, and tho' this may be distinct, yet it is obscure and dark.
1785 W. Cowper Task v. 59 Diligent to catch the first faint gleam Of smiling day.
1819 P. B. Shelley Rosalind & Helen 53 The summer wind faint odours brought From mountain flowers.
a1839 W. M. Praed Poems (1864) I. 96 Echo shrinks, as if afraid Of the faint murmur she has made.
1868 J. N. Lockyer Elem. Lessons Astron. i. 10 A star of the sixth magnitude is..the faintest visible to the naked eye.
b. of a colour.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > quality of colour > [adjective] > faint or weak
wateryOE
dima1250
lighta1398
rare?1440
delayed1543
faint1552
weak1585
pale1598
distempered1621
washya1639
thin1649
languid1663
dilute1665
welmish1688
sickly1695
dimmed1863
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Faynte and vnperfite coloure, dilutus color.
1665 R. Hooke Micrographia 74 All manner of Blues, from the faintest to the deepest.
1716 London Gaz. No. 5468/4 Stolen..a Faint Bay Horse.
1744 J. Thomson Summer in Seasons (new ed.) 109 From her naked Limbs, of glowing White..In Folds loose-floating fell the fainter Lawn.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 724 The faintest part of the picture.
1872 W. C. Bryant Little People 111 She saw a little creature..With..faint blue eyes.
Categories »
c. of markings, etc. Applied spec. to the lines of a pale blue or neutral tint ruled on paper as a guide for handwriting. Hence quasi-adv. in ruled faint.
d. of objects of mental perception, e.g. resemblance, probability, etc. Also of conceptions or representations: ‘Pale’ or feeble compared with the reality. Used in superlative, with ellipsis of idea, notion.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > slight
brief1432
ride?a1500
nice1561
remote1625
slim1671
faint1726
slightish1761
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > faint, imperfect idea > [adjective] > vague, feeble
implicit1660
faint1726
1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. viii. 147 Some faint hopes of Relief.
1751 J. Jortin Serm. (1771) II. xvii. 333 The faint remembrance of the word of God.
1772 J. Priestley Inst. Relig. (1782) II. 113 We form a faint idea of [it].
1834 T. Pringle Afr. Sketches x. 338 Such is a faint picture of the state of things.
1884 Manch. Examiner 11 June 5/3 There is not the faintest chance that [etc.].
1961 E. Partridge Dict. Slang (ed. 5) II. 1083/1.
1962 I. Murdoch Unofficial Rose ii. 27 ‘Where's Penny?’ said Ann. ‘Haven't the faintest,’ said Miranda.
6. Feeble through inanition, fear, or exhaustion; inclined to ‘faint’ or swoon. Const. †of, with.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > [adjective] > feeble or faint
swownc1000
faintc1320
languishinga1325
faltering1549
drooping1553
fainting1558
languished1577
swooning1646
weaka1707
languescent1837
the mind > emotion > fear > physical symptoms of fear > [adjective] > faint
faintc1320
the mind > possession > supply > [adjective] > provided or supplied with something > stocked or stored with > not stocked
faintc1320
unplenished1535
unstored1610
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > physical insensibility > unconsciousness > [adjective] > fainting or in a swoon > about to faint
faintc1320
fainty1530
faintful1589
swooning-ripe1652
faintish1834
c1320 tr. J. Bonaventura Medit. 509 Þey broȝt hym to pylate, he stode ful feynt.
c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 332 He ys boþe paal & feynt.
1430 J. Lydgate tr. Hist. Troy i. ix Which of laboure were ful mate and feynt.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) ix. 249 Guycharde..was feynte, and felle doun to the erthe.
1705 F. Fuller Medicina Gymnastica 35 When a Man..rises first from his sick Bed..he quickly grows faint.
1837 J. Richardson Brit. Legion (ed. 2) ii. 291 He was exceedingly..faint with the bruises he had received.
1867 C. Dickens Let. 21 Jan. (1999) XI. 301 I was taken so faint afterwards.
III. Producing faintness.
7.
a. Producing faintness; sickly; †having a sickly smell. Of the atmosphere: oppressive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > bad weather > [adjective] > oppressively still or close
mocha1522
faint1525
close1591
clit1610
muggy1638
pothery1696
mochy1794
mucky1804
mungy1809
sulky1817
sticky1855
languorous1887
soggy1897
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > [adjective] > having or communicating much heat > oppressively
swoly1496
faint1525
swaltish1530
sweltinga1542
sultering1581
swelty1586
sultry1594
swoltery1603
swole-hot1721
sweltering1845
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. clxxvii. [clxxiii.] 530 The wether was so faynt.
a1640 J. Fletcher et al. Beggers Bush iii. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Ll2/1 The white Cony-skin..though it be faint, tis faire to the eye.
1673 W. Temple Observ. United Provinces iii. 130 Warm faint Air turns in a night to a sharp Frost.
1712 W. Rogers Cruising Voy. 182 The Weather was very wet, hot and faint.
1857 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 16 Nov. in Eng. Notebks. (1997) II. vii. 427 The atmosphere was a little faint and sickish.
1864 G. A. Sala in Daily Tel. 16 Aug. I wish La Villa Ricca de Vera Cruz had not quite so faint a smell.
b. Of food: not fresh; tainted. local.
ΚΠ
1848 C. Dickens Dombey & Son lvii. 573 A man..chewing a faint apple.
1902 Westm. Gaz. 25 Oct. 2/3 This meat hadn't been trimmed. I admit it was ‘faint’.
Compounds
C1.
a. with adjectives of colour, as faint-blue, faint-green, etc.
b. parasynthetic, as faint-breathed, faint-hued, faint-lipped, faint-voiced, etc.
ΚΠ
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. ii. 421 The faint-breath'd childeren, Crie often Bek.
a1682 Sir T. Browne Christian Morals (1716) i. 9 Persons..but pale in Goodness, and faint hued in Integrity.
1820 J. Keats Hyperion: a Fragm. iii, in Lamia & Other Poems 192 Faint-lipp'd shells.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Mariana in South (rev. ed.) i, in Poems (new ed.) I. 87 A faint-blue ridge upon the right.
1844 R. M. Milnes Palm Leaves 138 Purple and faint-green relics of the day.
1871 E. F. Burr Ad Fidem xiv. 284 Difficulties become faint-voiced.
C2. quasi-adv. with participial adjectives, as faint-gleaming, faint-glimmering, faint-heard, faint-lit, faint-warbled, etc.
ΚΠ
1728 J. Thomson Spring 29 The long-forgotten Strain, At first faint-warbled.
1729 R. Savage Wanderer iii. 12 The Stars..faintglimm'ring with remains of day.
1730 J. Thomson Summer in Seasons 61 The meek-ey'd Morn appears..faint-gleaming in the dappled east.
1866 W. D. Howells Venetian Life xvii. 260 Faint-heard refrains.
1868 E. Bulwer-Lytton Chrons. & Characters I. 58 The faint-lit cold-wall'd corridors.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
faintv.
/feɪnt/, U.S. /feɪnt/ 1. intransitive. To lose heart or courage, be afraid, become depressed, give way, flag. Now only archaic after Biblical uses.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > worse > [verb (intransitive)]
worseeOE
aswindc885
worsena1250
appair1340
impair1340
fainta1375
pairc1390
vade1471
decay1511
decline1530
degenerate1545
lapse1641
addle1654
sunset1656
deteriorate1758
worst1781
descend1829
disimprove1846
slush1882
devolute1893
worser1894
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > be or become dejected [verb (intransitive)]
heavyOE
fallOE
droopena1225
lourc1290
droopc1330
to abate one's countenance (also cheer)a1350
dullc1374
fainta1375
languora1375
languisha1382
afflicta1393
gloppen?a1400
weary1434
appalc1450
to have one's heart in one's boots (also shoes, heels, hose, etc.)c1450
peak1580
dumpc1585
mopea1592
sink1603
bate1607
deject1644
despond1655
alamort?1705
sadden1718
dismal1780
munge1790
mug1828
to get one's tail down1853
to have (also get) the pip1881
shadow1888
to have (one's) ass in a sling1960
the mind > emotion > fear > timidity > be timorous [verb (intransitive)] > grow timid or lose courage
fainta1375
dreepc1430
tainta1616
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 3638 For here fon gun feynte & felde were manye.
a1400 Adam Davy's 5 Dreams 118 A voice me bede I ne shulde nouȝth feinte.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) 2 Cor. iv. 1 As mercy is come on us we fayncte not.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. lixv The straunger so faced the Englisheman, that he faynted in hys sute.
1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius War with Vandals ii. 41 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian The soldiers blamed each other for fainting.
1701 R. Steele Christian Hero iii. 62 His great heart, instead of fainting and subsiding, rose and biggen'd.
1722 W. Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. iii. 187 He was despised by many; yet he fainted not.
1827 J. Keble Christian Year II. lxxiv. 89 Why should we faint and fear to live alone.
1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) II. 478 Answer, and faint not.
2. † b. To fall short. Obsolete. rare.
a. To become faint, grow weak or feeble, decline. Const. in, of. Obsolete exc. poetic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > be in ill health [verb (intransitive)] > be weak > become weak
of-fall?a1200
fail?c1225
wastea1300
languisha1325
defail1340
languora1375
defaulta1382
wastea1387
faintc1450
mortifyc1475
hink?a1500
traik?a1513
droopc1540
unquick1595
macerate1598
dodder1617
lachanize1623
smartle1673
break1726
go1748
sink1780
wilt1787
falter1799
weaken1886
to go down1892
to go out of curl1924
the world > action or operation > manner of action > lack of violence, severity, or intensity > become less violent or severe [verb (intransitive)] > become weak
littleOE
faintc1450
weaken?1541
quail1557
quell1579
faltera1677
c1450 Crt. of Love 460 All her ymage paynte In the remembraunce till thow begynne to faynte.
1530 J. Rastell New Bk. Purgatory ii. xviii. sig. e His..vnderstandynge begynnyth to faynt.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 13918 All feblit þe freike, fainted of strenght.
1568 Newe Comedie Iacob & Esau i. i. sig. A.ijv Sometimes Esaus selfe will faynt for drinke and meate.
1623 J. Bingham tr. Xenophon Hist. 45 If they perceiue, that you faint in courage.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis ix, in tr. Virgil Wks. 478 The Fires were fainting there.
1820 P. B. Shelley Œdipus Tyrannus ii. 31 Loading the morning winds until they faint With living fragrance.
1866 B. Taylor Odalisque in Poems The day, through shadowy arches fainting.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > extension in space > extend in space [verb (intransitive)] > reach (to) > fall short
faint1623
to drop short1850
1623 J. Bingham tr. Lipsius Compar. Rom. Manner Warre in tr. Xenophon Hist. 3 It fainteth or straieth from the marke, if you aime further off.
3.
a. To fall into a swoon. Also with away.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > become weary or exhausted [verb (intransitive)] > break down, collapse, or faint
fail?c1225
swoonc1290
languisha1325
talmc1325
sinkc1400
faintc1440
droopc1540
collapse1879
crock1893
to flake (out)1942
the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > physical insensibility > unconsciousness > lose consciousness [verb (intransitive)] > faint or swoon
swotherc1000
swowa1250
swoonc1290
sweltc1330
trance1340
to fall on, in swowa1375
swapc1386
sound1393
dwelea1400
swaya1400
faintc1440
owmawt1440
swalmc1440
sweamc1440
syncopize1490
dwalm?a1513
swarf1513
swound1530
cothe1567
sweb1599
to go away1655
to die away1707
go1768
sink1769
sile1790
to pass out1915
to black out1935
c1440 York Myst. xlv. 95 Caste some watir vppon me, I faynte!
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 3550 He..fainted for febull, and felle to þe ground In a swyme.
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) iv. iii. 149 And now he fainted, And cride in fainting vpon Rosalinde. View more context for this quotation
1668 G. Etherege She wou'd if she Cou'd iv. i. 58 Oh, I shall faint!
a1701 H. Maundrell Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) 106 Where Christ fainted thrice, under the weight of his Cross.
1742 J. Wesley Jrnl. 18 Jan. As soon as she rose from prayer, she fainted away.
1849 G. Grote Hist. Greece VI. ii. lii. 435 He fainted away and fell back.
1880 ‘Ouida’ Moths I. 16 She could have fainted.
b. To droop, sink into. literal and figurative. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > descend [verb (transitive)] > sink into
faint1714
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > move downwards [verb (intransitive)] > droop
falla1398
droopa1400
faint1820
1714 A. Pope Rape of Lock (new ed.) iv. 32 There Affectation..Faints into Airs, and languishes with Pride.
1820 J. Keats Lamia i, in Lamia & Other Poems 11 A flower That faints into itself at evening hour.
4.
a. To lose colour or brightness; to fade, die away. Const. into. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > quality of colour > [verb (intransitive)] > become faint
wanec1000
fade13..
faint1430
vade1471
languish?1510
relent1531
the world > matter > colour > state or mode of having colour > absence of colour > lose colour [verb (intransitive)]
fade13..
to cast coloura1375
staina1387
faint1430
dow1502
discolour1612
dilute1764
decolorize1908
1430 J. Lydgate tr. Hist. Troy ii. xvii Coloures that may neuer faynte.
1594 H. Plat Jewell House 66 The Wines doe..beginne to faile or faint.
1675 A. Browne Ars Pictoria 90 The next [grounds]..as they loose in their distance must..faint..in their colours.
1708 J. Philips Cyder ii. 67 Unskill'd to tell Or where one colour rises or one faints.
1711 A. Pope Corr. 12 Nov. (1956) I. 135 Those..Figures in the gilded Clouds, which while we gaze long upon..the whole faints before the Eye, & decays into Confusion.
1873 A. I. Thackeray Old Kensington xv. 124 The draperies hang fainting and turning grey and brown.
1890 W. C. Russell Ocean Trag. III. xxxii. 193 The sky had fainted into a sickly hectic.
b. To grow dull or insensible to.Apparently an isolated use.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > lack sensitivity [verb (intransitive)] > become insensitive
stupefy1609
faint1669
hebetate1832
1669 W. Penn No Cross, No Crown in Wks. (1782) II. 93 We fainted to that pleasure and delight we once loved.
5. † b. To make less, diminish. Obsolete. rare.
a. transitive. To make faint or weak, depress, enfeeble, weaken. Rare in modern use. Also impersonal it faints me.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > cause to be ill [verb (transitive)] > make weak
fellOE
wastec1230
faintc1386
endull1395
resolvea1398
afaintc1400
defeat?c1400
dissolvec1400
weakc1400
craze1476
feeblish1477
debilite1483
overfeeble1495
plucka1529
to bring low1530
debilitate1541
acraze1549
decaya1554
infirma1555
weaken1569
effeeble1571
enervate1572
enfeeble1576
slay1578
to pull downa1586
prosternate1593
shake1594
to lay along1598
unsinew1598
languefy1607
enerve1613
pulla1616
dispirit1647
imbecilitate1647
unstring1700
to run down1733
sap1755
reduce1767
prostrate1780
shatter1785
undermine1812
imbecile1829
disinvigorate1844
devitalize1849
wreck1850
atrophy1865
crumple1892
the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > weakness of intellect > make weak [verb (transitive)]
faintc1386
mollify1490
weaken1536
pamper1576
touch1607
unspirit1607
disnervea1618
petrifya1631
dissinew1640
unbrace1711
atrophy1865
unstring1897
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > make dejected [verb (transitive)]
drearya1300
discomfortc1325
batec1380
to cast downa1382
to throw downa1382
dullc1386
faintc1386
discomfita1425
discourage1436
sinkc1440
mischeera1450
discheerc1454
amatea1500
bedowa1522
damp1548
quail1548
dash1550
exanimate1552
afflict1561
dank1565
disanimate1565
sadden1565
languish1566
deject1581
dumpc1585
unheart1593
mope1596
chill1597
sour1600
disgallant1601
disheart1603
dishearten1606
fainten1620
depress1624
sullen1628
tristitiate1628
disliven1631
dampen1633
weigh1640
out-spirit1643
dispirit1647
flat1649
funeralize1654
hearta1658
disencourage1659
attrist1680
flatten1683
dismalizec1735
blue-devil1812
out-heart1845
downweigh1851
to get down1861
frigidize1868
languor1891
downcast1914
neg1987
c1386 G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale 828 O luxurie..thou feyntest mannes mynde.
c1420 Pallad. on Husb. iii. 1090 Ffele I have seyn thair dammes feynt or quelle.
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure xix. xiii Doth he not knowe how your hert is faynted?
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 11162 Þurgh failyng of fode..fainttes þe pepull.
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions iv. 22 Neither faint it [sc. the body] with heat, nor freese it with cold.
1614 T. Adams in C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David (1871) II. Ps. xxxv. 3 Deferred hope faints the heart.
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII ii. iii. 104 It faints me To thinke what followes. View more context for this quotation
a1657 R. Loveday Lett. (1662) 195 It..faints my industry.
1667 Guthrie's Christian's Great Interest (ed. 4) 113 This seriousness breaketh the mans heart, and fainteth the stoutness of it.
1858 M. Oliphant Laird of Norlaw III. 175 Too much joy almost fainted the heart of the Mistress.
1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems lxiv. 216 Son, whom needs it faints me to launch full-tided on hazards.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > decrease or reduction in quantity, amount, or degree > reduce in quantity, amount, or degree [verb (transitive)]
littleeOE
anitherOE
wanzelOE
lessc1225
slakea1300
littenc1300
aslakec1314
adminisha1325
allayc1330
settle1338
low1340
minisha1382
reprovea1382
abatea1398
rebatea1398
subtlea1398
alaskia1400
forlyten?a1400
imminish14..
lessenc1410
diminish1417
repress?a1425
assuagec1430
scarcec1440
small1440
underslakec1440
alessa1450
debate?c1450
batec1460
decreasec1470
appetisse1474
alow1494
mince1499
perswage?1504
remita1513
inless?1521
attenuate1530
weaken1530
defray1532
mitigate1532
minorate1534
narrow?1548
diminuec1550
extenuate1555
amain1578
exolve1578
base1581
dejecta1586
amoinder1588
faint1598
qualify1604
contract1605
to pull down1607
shrivel1609
to take down1610
disaugment1611
impoverish1611
shrink1628
decoct1629
persway1631
unflame1635
straiten1645
depress1647
reduce1649
detract1654
minuate1657
alloy1661
lower?1662
sinka1684
retreat1690
nip1785
to drive down1840
minify1866
to knock down1867
to damp down1869
scale1887
mute1891
clip1938
to roll back1942
to cut back1943
downscale1945
downrate1958
slim1963
downshift1972
1598 J. Marston Scourge of Villanie iii. viii. sig. G2v With incensing touch To faint his force.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.c1320
adj.c1300v.a1375