feint

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A movement made to confuse an opponent

   A movement made to confuse an opponent; a dummy.

   • In October, Friburg had been taken by a Feint of the Duke of Crequi, before the Duke of Lorrain cou'd come to relieve it; […]
2. 2

   A blow, thrust, or other offensive movement resembling an attack on some part of the…

   A blow, thrust, or other offensive movement resembling an attack on some part of the body, intended to distract from a real attack on another part.

   • It is also possible to deliver a compound riposte by using an indirect feint. The attacking fencer would be open to a compound riposte following a successful parry by their opponent.
3. 3

   Something feigned

   Something feigned; a false or pretend appearance; a pretence or stratagem.

   • If you had fallen up against him (as some of them did), and stood there; he would have made a feint of endeavouring to seize you, which would have been an affront to your understanding; […]
   • Receiving no reply at all here, from the thoughtful man whom he addressed, Mr. William approached him nearer, and made a feint of accidentally knocking the table with a decanter, to rouse him.
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   1. 4

      To direct (a blow, thrust, or other offensive movement resembling an attack) on some part…

      To direct (a blow, thrust, or other offensive movement resembling an attack) on some part of the body, intended to distract from a real attack on another part.

      • Genevra scowled and said, "His word is wild, / But dastard treason feinteth such disorders: / Treason or witchcraft neither, undefiled, / A Christian court may cherish in its borders."
   2. 5

      To direct a feint or mock attack against (someone).

      • Feint him—use your legs! draw him about! he'll lose his wind then in no time, and you can go into him.
   3. 6

      To make a feint or mock attack.

      • Ben-Hur feinted with his right hand. The stranger warded, slightly advancing his left arm. Ere he could return to guard, Ben-Hur caught him by the wrist in a grip which years at the oar had made terrible as a vise.
      • My assailant stood a little; in the thick darkness I could see him bob and sidle as though he were feinting at me for an advantageous onfall.
      • Gomez feinted with his knife and the other man darted backward. He feinted again and the man moved to the side. The man feinted but Gomez didn't budge; he was anxious to get it on.
   4. 7

      Of an attack or offensive movement

      Of an attack or offensive movement: directed toward a different part from the intended strike.

   5. 8

      Feigned, counterfeit, fake.

      • We force ourselves to be hypocrites, and hide our wrongs from them; we speak of a bad father with false praises; we wear feint smiles over our tears and deceive our children—deceive them, do we?
   6. 9

      Of lines printed on paper as a handwriting guide

      Of lines printed on paper as a handwriting guide: not bold; faint, light; also, of such paper: ruled with faint lines of this sort.

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