I. adjective
Etymology: Middle English — more at faint I
archaic : feigned
II. ˈfānt noun
( -s )
Etymology: French feinte, from Old French fainte fabrication, feigning, from faint, feint, past participle of faindre, feindre to feign — more at feign
: something feigned or intended to deceive especially for an advantage : a false or deceptive act trick ; specifically : a mock blow or attack on or toward one part in order to distract opposition while one attacks another part (as in fencing, boxing, or military strategy)
Synonyms: see trick
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
: to make a feint
moved about with the grace of a ballet dancer, could counter and feint — Nat Fleischer
transitive verb
1. : to lure or deceive with a feint
the guard was feinted out of position
2. : to make a pretense of
the assailant feinted a rush, then stopped abruptly
IV. adjective
or faint “
Etymology: feint alteration of faint (I) ; faint from faint (I)
: being or belonging to fine pale horizontal lines produced by pen ruling (as in account books)
feint lines
feint ruling
V. noun
or faint “
( -s )
: a feint line