feint English · revision 1212

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /feɪnt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|feinte|t=a feint, sham, pretence]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from Old French ''feint'', the past participle of ''feindre'' “to feign”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la|fingo|t=to touch, shape, devise]].^(Etymonline) It is a doublet of [[faint]], with which it was partly confused in spelling in Middle English.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An adjective ''feint'' “deceitful, hypocritical” was borrowed about 1290,^(Barnhart 1995) and the verb ''feinten'' “to deceive” about 1300.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The modern noun, a false show or pretence, is recorded from 1679 (1644 in Merriam-Webster).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In fencing and boxing a ''feint'' is a blow aimed at one part to distract from the real target, a sense the OED records from 1600;^(OED 1989) in military use it is a movement meant to mislead an enemy (1683).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The verb, to make a sham attack, was formed from the noun and is recorded from 1833, though Merriam-Webster dates it to 1741.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) The old adjective survives as a trade spelling of ''faint'' for paper ruled with light lines.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1290 – adjective, deceitful.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * about 1300 – verb, to deceive.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1600 – noun, a feigned blow in fencing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1679 – noun, a pretence or stratagem.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1683 – noun, a deceptive military movement.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1833 – verb, to make a sham attack.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A pretended attack meant to draw the defence away from the real target, as in [[fencing]], [[boxing]] or war.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A deceptive action meant to hide one's real purpose; a [[pretence]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make a feint.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To deceive or lure with a feint.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To make a false show of; to [[simulate]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[feign]]

+ * [[faint]]

+ * [[fiction]]

+ * [[figment]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}