Faineant
[fey-nee-uh nt; French fe-ney-ahn] /ˈfeɪ ni ənt; French fɛ neɪˈɑ̃/
adjective
1.
Also, faineant
[fey-nee-uh nt] /ˈfeɪ ni ənt/ (Show IPA). idle; indolent.
noun, plural fainéants
[fey-nee-uh nts; French fe-ney-ahn] /ˈfeɪ ni ənts; French fɛ neɪˈɑ̃/ (Show IPA)
2.
an idler.
/ˈfeɪnɪənt; French fɛneɑ̃/
noun
1.
a lazy person; idler
adjective
2.
indolent
adj.
1610s (n.), from French fainéant (16c.) “do-nothing,” from fait, third person singular present tense of faire (see factitious) + néant “nothing” (cf. dolce far niente).
A French folk etymology of Old French faignant (14c.), present participle of faindre “to feign” (see feign). As an adjective, from 1855.
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[feyn] /feɪn/ adverb 1. gladly; willingly: He fain would accept. adjective 2. content; willing: They were fain to go. 3. Archaic. constrained; obliged: He was fain to obey his Lord. 4. Archaic. glad; pleased. 5. Archaic. desirous; eager. /feɪn/ adverb 1. (usually with would) (archaic) willingly; gladly: she would fain be dead adjective 2. (obsolete) […]
- Fainest
[feyn] /feɪn/ adverb 1. gladly; willingly: He fain would accept. adjective 2. content; willing: They were fain to go. 3. Archaic. constrained; obliged: He was fain to obey his Lord. 4. Archaic. glad; pleased. 5. Archaic. desirous; eager. /feɪn/ adverb 1. (usually with would) (archaic) willingly; gladly: she would fain be dead adjective 2. (obsolete) […]
- Fainites
/ˈfeɪnaɪts/ interjection 1. (dialect) a cry for truce or respite from the rules of a game
- Faint
[feynt] /feɪnt/ adjective, fainter, faintest. 1. lacking brightness, vividness, clearness, loudness, strength, etc.: a faint light; a faint color; a faint sound. 2. feeble or slight: faint resistance; faint praise; a faint resemblance. 3. feeling weak, dizzy, or exhausted; about to lose consciousness: faint with hunger. 4. lacking courage; cowardly; timorous: Faint heart never won […]
- Fainted
[feynt] /feɪnt/ adjective, fainter, faintest. 1. lacking brightness, vividness, clearness, loudness, strength, etc.: a faint light; a faint color; a faint sound. 2. feeble or slight: faint resistance; faint praise; a faint resemblance. 3. feeling weak, dizzy, or exhausted; about to lose consciousness: faint with hunger. 4. lacking courage; cowardly; timorous: Faint heart never won […]