feint

[feynt] /feɪnt/
noun
1.
a movement made in order to deceive an adversary; an attack aimed at one place or point merely as a distraction from the real place or point of attack:
military feints; the feints of a skilled fencer.
2.
a feigned or assumed appearance:
His air of approval was a feint to conceal his real motives.
verb (used without object)
3.
to make a feint.
verb (used with object)
4.
to make a feint at; deceive with a feint.
5.
to make a false show of; simulate.
Origin
1275-1325; Middle English < Old French feinte, noun use of feminine of feint pretended, past participle of feindre to feign
Can be confused
fain, faint, feign, feint.

feints

[feynts] /feɪnts/
plural noun
1.
faints.
Examples from the web for feint
  • As with many courses with moving obstacles, a second, longer way to the cup is usually offered for those feint-of-heart.
  • We made a feint at trying this, but it was impossible.
British Dictionary definitions for feint

feint1

/feɪnt/
noun
1.
a mock attack or movement designed to distract an adversary, as in a military manoeuvre or in boxing, fencing, etc
2.
a misleading action or appearance
verb
3.
(intransitive) to make a feint
Word Origin
C17: from French feinte, from feint pretended, from Old French feindre to feign

feint2

/feɪnt/
noun
1.
(printing) the narrowest rule used in the production of ruled paper
Word Origin
C19: variant of faint

feints

/feɪnts/
plural noun
1.
the leavings of the second distillation of Scotch malt whisky
Word Origin and History for feint
n.

1670s, "a false show, a pretended blow," from French feinte "a feint, sham," abstract noun from Old French feint (13c.) "false, deceitful," originally fem. past participle of feindre (see feign).

Borrowed late 13c. as adjective, but now obsolete in that sense. Also as a noun in Middle English with sense "false-heartedness" (early 14c.), also "bodily weakness" (c.1400).

v.

c.1300, feinten, "to deceive, pretend," also "become feeble or exhausted; to lack spirit or courage," from feint (adj.); see feint (n.). Cf. Old French feintir "be slow, delay." Sense of "to make a sham attack" is first attested 1833. Related: Feinted; feinting.