Faints

[feynts] /feɪnts/

noun, (used with a plural verb)
1.
the impure spirit produced in the first and last stages of the distillation of whiskey.
[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 fair maid.
5.
Law. unfounded:
a faint action.
verb (used without object)
6.
to lose consciousness temporarily.
7.
to lose brightness.
8.
Archaic. to grow weak; lose spirit or courage.
noun
9.
a temporary loss of consciousness resulting from a decreased flow of blood to the brain; a swoon:
to fall into a faint.
/feɪnts/
plural noun
1.
a variant spelling of feints
/feɪnt/
adjective
1.
lacking clarity, brightness, volume, etc: a faint noise
2.
lacking conviction or force; weak: faint praise
3.
feeling dizzy or weak as if about to lose consciousness
4.
without boldness or courage; timid (esp in the combination faint-hearted)
5.
not the faintest, not the faintest idea, not the faintest notion, no idea whatsoever: I haven’t the faintest
verb (intransitive)
6.
to lose consciousness, esp momentarily, as through weakness
7.
(archaic or poetic) to fail or become weak, esp in hope or courage
noun
8.
a sudden spontaneous loss of consciousness, usually momentary, caused by an insufficient supply of blood to the brain Technical name syncope
adj.

c.1300, “wanting in courage,” now mostly in faint-hearted (mid-15c.), from Old French feint “soft, weak, sluggish,” past participle of feindre “hesitate, falter, be indolent, show weakness, avoid one’s duty by pretending” (see feign). Sense of “weak, feeble” is early 14c. Meaning “producing a feeble impression upon the senses” is from 1650s.
v.

“grow weak” (c.1300); “lose heart” (mid-14c.); see faint (adj.). Sense of “swoon” is c.1400. Related: Fainted; fainting.

faint (fānt)
n.
An abrupt, usually brief loss of consciousness; an attack of syncope. adj.
Extremely weak; threatened with syncope.
faint v.
see: damn with faint praise