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Faint vs Faintly - What's the difference?

faint | faintly |

As an adjective faint

is lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to swoon; as, faint with fatigue, hunger, or thirst.

As a noun faint

is the act of fainting.

As a verb faint

is to lose consciousness. Caused by a lack of oxygen or nutrients to the brain, usually as a result of a suddenly reduced blood flow (may be caused by emotional trauma, loss of blood or various medical conditions).

As an adverb faintly is

in a faint manner; very quietly or lightly.

faint

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to swoon; as, faint with fatigue, hunger, or thirst.
  • Wanting in courage, spirit, or energy; timorous; cowardly; dejected; depressed.
  • "Faint heart ne'er won fair lady." Robert Burns - To Dr. Blackjack.
  • Lacking distinctness; hardly perceptible; striking the senses feebly; not bright, or loud, or sharp, or forcible; weak; as, a faint color, or sound.
  • Performed, done, or acted, in a weak or feeble manner; not exhibiting vigor, strength, or energy; slight; as, faint efforts; faint resistance.
  • * Sir J. Davies
  • the faint prosecution of the war
  • * 2005 , .
  • do you have the faintest understanding of what they mean?

    Derived terms

    * damn with faint praise

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of fainting.
  • (rare) The state of one who has fainted; a swoon.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To lose consciousness. Caused by a lack of oxygen or nutrients to the brain, usually as a result of a suddenly reduced blood flow (may be caused by emotional trauma, loss of blood or various medical conditions).
  • * Bible, Mark viii. 8
  • If I send them away fasting they will faint by the way.
  • * Guardian
  • Hearing the honour intended her, she fainted away.
  • To sink into dejection; to lose courage or spirit; to become depressed or despondent.
  • * Bible, Proverbs xxiv. 10
  • If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
  • To decay; to disappear; to vanish.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • Gilded clouds, while we gaze upon them, faint before the eye.

    Synonyms

    * pass out * queal * swoon

    Anagrams

    * * ----

    faintly

    English

    Adverb

    (head)
  • In a faint manner; very quietly or lightly.
  • *
  • *:So this was my future home, I thought!Backed by towering hills, the but faintly discernible purple line of the French boundary off to the southwest, a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.