faint

faint · adjective

imported

Definitions

adjective

  1. 1.

    (adjective) Barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness.

  2. 2.

    (adjective) Feeling weak and dizzy, close to losing consciousness.

  3. 3.

    (adjective) Slight or small in degree.

  4. 4.

    (verb) To lose consciousness temporarily.

  5. 5.

    (noun) A temporary loss of consciousness.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    faint-hearted — lacking courage; timid
  • •
    not for the faint of heart — requiring courage or determination
  • •
    damn with faint praise — praise so weak it amounts to criticism

Related words

Antonyms: bright, clear, loud, strong
See also: dizzy, fainted, unconscious, weak
Synonyms: dim, dizzy, slight, weak

Etymology

From Old French feint meaning "feigned, false, weak," past participle of feindre meaning "to feign, pretend," from Latin fingere meaning "to shape, form, devise."