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feint

[ feynt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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.
a feigned or assumed appearance:
His air of approval was a feint to conceal his real motives.

verb (used without object)

to make a feint:
He feinted left, then struck his opponent with a roar.

verb (used with object)

to make a feint at; deceive with a feint.
to make a false show of; simulate.

feint

/ �ڱ�ɪ�Գ� /

noun

a mock attack or movement designed to distract an adversary, as in a military manoeuvre or in boxing, fencing, etc
a misleading action or appearance

verb

intr to make a feint

feint

/ �ڱ�ɪ�Գ� /

noun

printing the narrowest rule used in the production of ruled paper

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Word History and Origins

Origin of feint¹

First recorded in 1670–80; from French feinte, from Old French feinte “fabrication,” noun use of feminine of feint “pretended,” past participle of feindre; feign

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Word History and Origins

Origin of feint¹

C17: from French feinte , from feint pretended, from Old French feindre to feign

Origin of feint²

C19: variant of faint

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

This attack on foreign students isn't a feint.

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Perhaps this is a feint in some grand art of the deal.

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On a metatextual level, the show is itself a masterful feint.

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Whether the visit is a feint to draw Democratic dollars to the state or a true effort to expand the electoral map, only the Trump campaign knows.

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It is the most delicate of dances, rife with subtle signals, attacks and feints, and deniable action.

From

Related Words

ruse

feinschmecker feints

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