Faintest

/ˈfeɪntɪst/ adjective

Definition

The superlative form of 'faint,' meaning the weakest, dimmest, or least strong in degree or intensity.

Etymology

From Old French 'feint' (meaning deceit or pretense), but the sense evolved—'faint' came to mean weak or lacking strength, and 'faintest' is the superlative form using the '-est' suffix.

Kelly Says

It's fascinating that 'faint' started as a word about deception and pretense but evolved to mean physically weak or barely perceptible—suggesting that our ancestors saw trickery and weakness as related concepts.

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