1. A growing feeble or faint-hearted; depression, discouragement.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 13936. With fainttyng & feblenes he fell to þe ground.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., I. i. 46.
| Almost at fainting vnder | |
| The pleasing punishment that women beare. |
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Love Unknown, 2.
| And in my faintings I presume your love | |
| Will more complie, then help. |
2. Swooning.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XIX. v. 18. This root [elecampane] thus confected … is singular good for faintings.
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. (1879), 176. Fetch something, and give it Mercy … to stay her fainting.
1748. Hartley, Observations on Man, I. i. 40. Hence Faintings and Stupors.
1850. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., xxxix. 344. I meant to stop your fainting.
b. attrib. in fainting fit, a swoon.
1702. J. Purcell, Cholick (1714), 97. Fainting Fits, or a Syncope, that is a Cessation of the Pulse and Breathing for a short time, will ensue.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, ii. Catharine, still pale and trembling, was, however, recovered from her fainting fit.
1855. Stanley, Mem. Canterb., iii. (1857), 128. Often he fell into long fainting fits, which his attendants mistook for death.
