— fainter , n. — faintingly , adv. — faintish , adj. — faintishness , n. — faintly , adv. — faintness , n.
/faynt/ , adj., fainter, faintest , v. , n.
adj.
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.
v.i.
6. to lose consciousness temporarily.
7. to lose brightness.
8. Archaic. to grow weak; lose spirit or courage.
n.
9. a temporary loss of consciousness resulting from a decreased flow of blood to the brain; a swoon: to fall into a faint.
[ 1250-1300; ME faindre, var. of feindre to FEIGN ]
Syn. 1. indistinct, ill-defined, dim, faded, dull, 2. faltering, irresolute, weak. 3. languid. 4. pusillanimous, fearful, timid, dastardly. 6. pass out, black out.