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

  1. In a faint manner; very quietly or lightly

Ancestry of “faintly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishfeintli—
2EnglishfaintLacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to lose...
3Middle Englishfainten—
Every word from Middle English fainten →Every word from English faint →Every word from Middle English feintli →