Etymology Map
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Faint

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means weak and dizzy; barely noticeable

Where does the word "faint" come from? It comes from Latin fingere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
fingere
Latin · ancient
"to shape, feign"
the root of 'feign' and 'fiction'
2
Stage 2 of 3
feint
Old French · medieval
"sluggish, pretended"
past participle of 'feindre', to feign
3
Stage 3 of 3
faint
English · 1300s
"feigned; weak"
'feint' in fencing is the same word
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Read the full story

Faint’s story begins in Latin: fingere meant “to shape, feign.” The root of 'feign' and 'fiction'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as feint. Past participle of 'feindre', to feign. It reached English by 1300s as faint. 'feint' in fencing is the same word. Today, faint means weak and dizzy; barely noticeable.