faint
part of speech
adjective (faint, fainter, faintest); verb (faint, faints, fainted, fainting); noun (a faint)
meaning for a pupil
1) Not strong or clear; hard to see, hear or smell (a faint sound, a faint line). tree →
2) To suddenly become unconscious for a short time and fall down, often because the brain does not get enough blood. tree →
3) Feeling weak and dizzy, as if you might fall (I feel faint). tree →
4) Very small (a faint chance; I haven't the faintest idea = I don't know at all). tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: In the Torah it means weak and worn out from hunger or shock. The prophets and psalms also use it for a heart or soul that is weak, sick or hopeless from trouble. Interpretation: Tradition reads the "faint heart" of Isaiah as a nation sick with sin. The psalm of the hungry travelers is read as thanks to God, who rescues the weak. In the primary lessons: In safety and first aid: people can faint from heat, not eating, standing still too long, or the sight of blood; lie them down, raise their legs, give air, and get an adult; call an ambulance if they don't wake up quickly. In art and maths, faint lines are light pencil lines you can rub out. In stories faint sounds and lights build mystery. Phrases: feel faint, faint with hunger, a faint smell, not the faintest idea.
examples
- And Jacob sod pottage; and Esau came in from the field, and he was faint. (Torah GEN.25.29, JPS 1917) tree →
- And Esau said to Jacob: 'Let me swallow, I pray thee, some of this red, red pottage; for I am faint.' Therefore was his name called Edom. (Torah GEN.25.30, JPS 1917) tree →
- And they told him, saying: 'Joseph is yet alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.' And his heart fainted, for he believed them not. (Torah GEN.45.26, JPS 1917) tree →
- Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. (Writings PSA.107.5, JPS 1917) tree →
- The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint; (Prophets ISA.1.5, JPS 1917) tree →
- Yea, God hath made my heart faint, and the Almighty hath affrighted me; (Writings JOB.23.16, JPS 1917) tree →
- I could hear a faint sound coming from the cupboard. tree →
- Draw faint lines first, then go over them in pen. tree →
- He fainted in the hot sun and fell down. tree →
- If you feel faint, sit down and put your head between your knees. tree →
- There was a faint smell of smoke. tree →
- The stars were faint because of the city lights. tree →
- I haven't the faintest idea where my shoe is. tree →
- The sickening smell made him faint. tree →
note
Homophone trap: «faint» (weak, or to pass out) and «feint» (a fake move in sport or boxing) sound the same. Comparative: fainter, faintest.
In the corpora
- And Jacob sod pottage; and Esau came in from the field, and he was faint.
- And they smote of the Philistines that day from Michmas to Aijalon; and the people were very faint.
- The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint;
- The earth fainteth and fadeth away, the world faileth and fadeth away, the lofty people of the earth do fail.
- He giveth power to the faint; and to him that hath no might He increaseth strength.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «faint» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.