FAINTS

Noun

faints

plural of faint

The impure spirit that comes over first (the strong faints) and last (the weak faints) in the distillation of whisky, much impregnated with fusel oil.

Anagrams

• Fantis, fiants, finsta, fitnas

Source: Wiktionary

---

Faints, n.pl.

Definition: The impure spirit which comes over first and last in the distillation of whisky; -- the former being called the strong faints, and the latter, which is much more abundant, the weak faints. This crude spirit is much impregnated with fusel oil. Ure.

FAINT

Faint, a. [Compar. Fainter (-r); superl. Faintest.] Etym: [OE. faint, feint, false, faint, F. feint, p.p. of feindre to feign, suppose, hesitate. See Faign, and cf. Feint.]

1. Lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to swoon; as, faint with fatigue, hunger, or thirst.

2. Wanting in courage, spirit, or energy; timorous; cowardly; dejected; depressed; as, "Faint heart ne'er won fair lady." Old Proverb.

3. Lacking distinctness; hardly perceptible; striking the senses feebly; not bright, or loud, or sharp, or forcible; weak; as, a faint color, or sound.

4. Performed, done, or acted, in a weak or feeble manner; not exhibiting vigor, strength, or energy; slight; as, faint efforts; faint resistance. The faint prosecution of the war. Sir J. Davies.

Faint, n.

Definition: The act of fainting, or the state of one who has fainted; a swoon. [R.] See Fainting, n. The saint, Who propped the Virgin in her faint. Sir W. Scott.

Faint, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fainted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fainting.]

1. To become weak or wanting in vigor; to grow feeble; to lose strength and color, and the control of the bodily or mental functions; to swoon; -- sometimes with away. See Fainting, n. Hearing the honor intended her, she fainted away. Guardian. If I send them away fasting . . . they will faint by the way. Mark viii. 8.

2. To sink into dejection; to lose courage or spirit; to become depressed or despondent. If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Prov. xxiv. 10.

3. To decay; to disappear; to vanish. Gilded clouds, while we gaze upon them, faint before the eye. Pope.

Faint, v. t.

Definition: To cause to faint or become dispirited; to depress; to weaken. [Obs.] It faints me to think what follows. Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

---