Faint (?), v. t. To cause to faint or become dispirited; to depress; to weaken. [Obs.]
It faints
me to think
what follows.
Shak.
Faint , v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fainted;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Fainting.]
1. To become weak or wanting in vigor; to grow feeble; to lose strength and color, and the control of the bodily
or mental functions; to swoon; -- sometimes with away. See Fainting, n.
Hearing the honor intended her, she fainted away.
Guardian. If I send them away fasting . . . they will faint by the way.
Mark viii. 8.
2. To sink into dejection; to lose courage or spirit; to
become depressed or despondent.
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
Prov. xxiv. 10.
3. To decay; to disappear; to vanish.
Gilded clouds, while we gaze
upon them, faint before the eye.
Pope.
Faint , n. The act of fainting, or the state of
one who has
fainted; a swoon. [R.] See Fainting, n.
The saint,
Who propped the Virgin in her
faint.
Sir W. Scott.
Faint (fānt), a. [Compar. Fainter
(-&etilde;r); superl.
Faintest.]
[OE. feint, faint, false, faint, F. feint, p. p.
of feindre to feign, suppose, hesitate. See Feign, and cf. Feint.] 1. Lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to swoon; as,
faint with fatigue, hunger, or thirst.
2. Wanting in courage, spirit, or energy; timorous; cowardly; dejected; depressed; as, "Faint heart ne'er won fair lady." Old Proverb.
3. Lacking distinctness; hardly perceptible; striking
the senses feebly; not bright, or loud, or sharp, or forcible; weak; as, a faint color, or sound.
4. Performed, done, or acted, in a weak or feeble manner; not exhibiting vigor, strength, or energy; slight; as, faint efforts; faint resistance.
The faint prosecution of the war.
Sir J. Davies.
Hear it pronounced