Obs. Forms: 3–5 feint-, feynt-, -ise, -yce, -yse, (4 fentesye, 5 feyntyse), 4–5 faint-, fant-, faynt-, -es(e, -is(e, -ys(e, (4 Sc. fayntice, 5 fentyse). [a. OF. faintise, feintise (mod.F. feintise) = Pr. feintesa, f. faint, feint feigned, sluggish, cowardly: see FAINT a.]
1. Deceit, dissimulation, hypocrisy, pretence.
1340. Ayenb., 26. Hit wes al fayntise and ypocrisie.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 594. Ere he fayne any faintes.
1485. Caxton, Charles the Grete, 217. The kyng Aygolant … dysposed hym to receyue baptym on the morne without fayntyse.
2. Feebleness, weakness (of body or mind); want of energy, cowardice. Cf. FAINTNESS. Without faintise: without flagging or flinching.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 39. Muche þing, þat ys eldore loren þorw feyntyse … he wann seþþe a ȝeyn.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 176. Philip withouten fayntise did alle his trauaile.
a. 1400. Pol. Rel. & L. Poems, 246.
| For feyntyce fel þat fayre fode, | |
| Nakyd he bar þat hard rode | |
| To-ward caluery. |
c. 1470. Hardyng, Chron., LXXXI. viii. So worthely thei faught without feyntise.
