faint
To faint is defined as to pass out or to lose consciousness for a period of time.
(verb)An example of faint is when you see a baby being born and you pass out from the excitment, falling to the floor in the delivery room.
The definition of faint is something without strength such as a very quiet sound or a very light color.
(adjective)An example of faint is a very pale yellow painted on a wall.
See faint in Webster's New World College Dictionary
adjective
- without strength; weak; feeble
- without courage or hope; timid
- done without strength, vigor, or enthusiasm; halfhearted
- feeling weak and dizzy, as if about to swoon
- dim; indistinct; unclear
- far from certain: a faint chance
Origin: ME feint < OFr, sluggish, orig. pp. of feindre: see feign
noun
- a condition of temporary loss of consciousness as a result of an inadequate flow of blood to the brain; swoon
- the crude, impure spirits given off in the first and last stages of the distillation of liquor
intransitive verb
- to fall into a faint; swoon: often with away
- Archaic
- to weaken; languish
- to lose courage or hope
See faint in American Heritage Dictionary 4
adjective faint·er, faint·est
- Lacking strength or vigor; feeble.
- Lacking conviction, boldness, or courage; timid.
- a. Lacking brightness: a faint light in the gloom.b. Lacking clarity or distinctness: a faint recollection.
- Likely to fall into a faint; dizzy and weak: felt faint for a moment.
- To fall into a usually brief state of unconsciousness.
- Archaic To weaken in purpose or spirit.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English, deceitful, cowardly
Origin: , from Old French
Origin: , past participle of feindre, to feign; see feign
.Related Forms:
- faintˈer noun
- faintˈly adverb
- faintˈness noun
Learn more about faint
