adjective

faint

Translation

slight, indistinct, feeling weak, to lose consciousness

I heard a faint cry for help.

I feel faint from the heat.

She fainted when she saw the blood.

a ((faint)) + noun a slight or unclear noun. I saw a faint light in the distance.

to feel ((faint)) to feel weak, as if you might lose consciousness. I suddenly felt faint and dizzy.

to ((faint)) to lose consciousness. He fainted from the shock.

Synonyms (adj): indistinct, weak, dizzy; Antonyms (adj): clear, strong, loud. Synonyms (verb): pass out, collapse.

From Old French 'feint', past participle of 'feindre' meaning 'to feign, pretend'. The sense evolved to 'lacking in spirit, weak'.

Imagine someone 'feigning' illness, and then they actually start to feel weak and 'faint'.