Where does “faintly” come from?
Faintly derives from Middle English feintli, the adverbial form of feint meaning feigned or weak.
faintly (English): In a faint manner; very quietly or lightly
Definitions
- In a faint manner; very quietly or lightly
Ancestry of “faintly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | feintli | — |
| 2 | English | faint | Lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to lose... |
| 3 | Middle English | fainten | — |