† 1. Feignedly, by way of feint or pretence, deceitfully. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1725), 152. Gode acord to make, forsoþe fulle fayntlie.
c. 1400. Cato’s Morals, 16, in Cursor M., App. iv.
| Fainteli for to speke, | |
| and þe soþ for to steke | |
| is falsid and blame. |
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccxxi. 287. Some men of armes passed after fayntly.
1548. Hall, Chron., 241. Countryes … by hym stollen and faintly conquered.
1741. C. Middleton, Cicero, I. V. 365. Gabinius, as Cicero says, ‘was forced to break his league with Clodius, and fight for Pompey; at first faintly [L. simulate] and unwillingly, but at last heartily.’
† 2. In a spiritless manner, like a coward; timidly.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 10596. Hii fouþte feinteliche.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 491. What he bygynneþ frescheliche, he forsakeþ hit feyntliche as a womman.
c. 1400. Melayne, 1419.
| Þat I fro this grete Iournee | |
| Fayntly fledde a way. |
1580. Baret, Alv., W 341. Womanishlie, faintlie, fearefullie, muliébriter.
1643. Denham, Cooper’s H., 285.
| Yet faintly now declines the fatal strife; | |
| So much his love was dearer than his life. |
3. In a weak, feeble or languid manner; feebly.
c. 1320. R. Brunne, Medit., 571.
| Cryst goþ krokedly þys heuy cros vndyr, | |
| And feyntly hyt bereþ, hyt ys no wundyr. |
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 180. Þus moun we se how feyntli we serve to Crist.
c. 1430. Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 1617. Wel feyntlie she felt hir stere.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 155 b. Perfeccyon, whiche they slowly & weykly or fayntly desyre.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 29. Faintly kissing him, she breathed out her life.
1699. Dampier, Voy., II. I. 16. The tide pressing against the stream, tho faintly.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., II. xli. 504. Their valiant promise was faintly supported in the hour of battle.
1861. Athenæum, 29 June, 854/3. Cavour faintly smiled, shook his head, and answered in a weak voice—‘Thanks, Sire, for this new proof of your goodness, but we shall meet no more.’
† b. With hesitation, not actively or energetically, coldly, half-heartedly. Obs.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 153. Feyntly, segniter.
1488. Caxton, Chast. Goddes Chyld., 13. Though I wyll but fayntly … my wylle is to wylle perfyghtly.
1548. Hall, Chron., 177. They set forward the king, and … brought him to London … where he was fayntly receyved, and febly welcomed.
1627. May, Lucan, III. (1635), 355.
| Some hands would falter at their fathers sight, | |
| And brothers faintly would ’gainst brothers fight. |
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 468, 27 Aug., ¶ 3. To praise faintly the good qualities of those below them.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, III. 280. I stand single, having but the exploded Mayow, and even him, but faintly on my side.
4. In a faint or almost imperceptible degree; very slightly; in faint tones; without vividness or distinctness.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. v. 24.
| And therewith shott an arrow at the lad; | |
| Which, fayntly fluttering, scarce his helmet raught. |
1595. Shaks., John, IV. ii. 226.
| Apt, liable to be employ’d in danger, | |
| I faintly broke with thee of Arthurs death. |
1695. Blackmore, Prince Arthur, III. 706.
| The boiling Floods terrific Colours shew, | |
| Some deeply Red, and others faintly Blue. |
1708. J. Philips, Cyder, II. 62.
| Gladly they | |
| Will mow the Cowslip-Posies, faintly sweet, | |
| From whence thou artifical Wines shalt drain | |
| Of icy Taste. |
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., III. 149. The wide and stony beds, whose centre was faintly marked by the course of a shallow stream.
1800. trans. Lagrange’s Chem., I. 420. This salt detonates faintly.
1849. Mrs. Somerville, Connex. Phys. Sc., xxxvii. 436. Faintly visible to the naked eye.
1892. Law Times, XCIII. 459/1. The notice of objection is not signed by any elector, but is stamped faintly with a stamp signifying that ‘Richard Mason’ is the objector.
† b. Hardly, scarcely. Obs.
1529. Supplic. to King, 50. Doo not these thinges fayntely agree with the sayenge of … Paule the Apostle.
1634. Massinger, Very Woman, II. ii. We have but faintly yet begun our journey. Ibid. (1636), Bashful Lover, III. iii. My enemy—I can faintly call him so.
