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Faint vs Faintness - What's the difference?

faint | faintness |

As nouns the difference between faint and faintness

is that faint is the act of fainting while faintness is the property of being or feeling faint.

As an adjective faint

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

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).

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

    * * ----

    faintness

    English

    Noun

  • The property of being or feeling faint.
  • Synonyms

    * faintheartedness * dimness

    See also

    * giddiness * light-headedness * vertigo