adj.
- (of a sight, smell, or sound) barely perceptible.
▸(of a hope, chance, or idea) slight.
- close to losing consciousness.
v.
briefly lose consciousness because of a temporarily insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain.
n.
a sudden loss of consciousness.
Derivative
- faintly adv.
- faintness n.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. faint, feint, past part. of faindre, feindre (see feign).