feint

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(fānt) pronunciation
n.
  1. A feigned attack designed to draw defensive action away from an intended target.
  2. A deceptive action calculated to divert attention from one's real purpose. See synonyms at wile.

v., feint·ed, feint·ing, feints.

v.intr.
To make a feint.

v.tr.
  1. To deceive with a feint.
  2. To make a deceptive show of.

[French feinte, from Old French, from past participle of feindre, to feign. See feign.]



Both words come from the same Old French root feindre 'to feign'. Faint is used as an adjective meaning 'indistinct, pale' or 'feeling dizzy', as a noun meaning 'a loss of consciousness', and as a verb meaning 'to lose consciousness'. Feint is used as a noun meaning 'a sham attack or blow as a diversion', as a verb meaning 'to make a feint', and (since the 19th century) as an adjective denoting faint lines on ruled paper.

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noun

    An indirect, usually cunning means of gaining an end: artifice, deception, device, dodge, gimmick, imposture, jig, maneuver, ploy, ruse, sleight, stratagem, subterfuge, trick, wile. Informal shenanigan, take-in. See honest/dishonest, means.


n

Definition: pretense
Antonyms: truth


[fānt]

n. 1. a deceptive or pretended blow, thrust, or other movement.

2. a mock attack or movement in warfare, made in order to distract or deceive an enemy.

v.

make a deceptive or distracting movement, typically during a fight: he feinted left, drawing a punch and slipping it.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

A slight bend in the edge of a flashing or counterflashing to form a capillary break.


(DOD) In military deception, an offensive action involving contact with the adversary conducted for the purpose of deceiving the adversary as to the location and/or time of the actual main offensive action.

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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: Any sham, pretense, or deceptive movement.

pronunciation A feint is a great move in the sport of fencing because it fools the opponent.

Tutor's tip: The soccer player felt as thought he was going to "faint" (to temporarily lose consciousness) after making an incredible "feint" (a pretended blow or attack; a deceptive move) to score the goal.

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categories related to 'feint'

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Random House Word Menu by Stephen Glazier
For a list of words related to feint, see:
  • Strategy and Tactics - feint: attack aimed at one point as a distraction from the real point of attack


  See crossword solutions for the clue Feint.

Feint is a French term that entered English via the discipline of fencing.[citation needed] Feints are maneuvers designed to distract or mislead, done by giving the impression that a certain maneuver will take place, while in fact another, or even none, will. In military tactics and many types of combat, there are two types of feints: feint attacks and feint retreats.

Attacks

A feint attack is designed to draw defensive action towards the point under assault. It is usually used as a diversion to force the enemy to concentrate more manpower in a given area so that the opposing force in another area is weaker. Unlike a related diversionary maneuver, the demonstration, a feint involves actual contact with the enemy.

Retreats

A feint retreat is performed by briefly engaging the enemy, then retreating. It is intended to draw the enemy pursuit into a prepared ambush, or to cause disarray. For example, the Battle of Hastings was lost when Saxons pursued the Norman cavalry. This forfeited the advantage of height and the line was broken, providing the opportunity to fight in single handed combat on a neutral vantage point, a battle for which the Saxons were not ready. The Parthian shot is another example of a feint retreat, where mounted Parthian archers would retreat from a battle and then, while still riding, turn their bodies back to shoot at the pursuing enemy.

See also

  • Kizeme, similar concept in Japanese swordsmanship

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - list, forstillelse, skinangreb
v. intr. - foretage et skinangreb
v. tr. - finte

Nederlands (Dutch)
schijnbeweging, voorwendsel, flauw, een schijnbeweging maken, veinzen, een voorwendsel maken

Français (French)
n. - (Sport) feinte, (Mil) feinte, (Imprim) réglure fine
v. intr. - feinter, (Mil) faire une fausse attaque, (Sport) feinter
v. tr. - feinter

Deutsch (German)
n. - Finte
v. - eine Finte ausführen

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - προσποίηση, παραπλανητική επίθεση
adj. - αμυδρός
v. - προσποιούμαι ότι θα επιτεθώ

Italiano (Italian)
finta, finto, fingere

Português (Portuguese)
n. - finta (f) (Esp.)
v. - fintar

Русский (Russian)
финт, диверсия, наносить отвлекающий удар

Español (Spanish)
n. - finta, amago, fingido
v. intr. - fintar, hacer una finta
v. tr. - fintar, amagar

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - skenmanöver, list
adj. - svag
v. - företa ett skenanfall, finta (sport)

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
伪装, 假托, 假装, 装作, 佯攻

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 偽裝, 假託, 假裝
v. intr. - 裝作, 佯攻, 假裝
v. tr. - 佯攻

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 가장, 시늉, 견제동작
v. intr. - ~체하다, 속이다
v. tr. - 때리는 척을 하다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 見せかけ, フェイント, 薄い罫線
v. - 打つふりをする, フェイントをかける, 見せかけでだます, …のふりをする
adj. - 細くて色がうすい

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) خدعه , هجوم وهمي (صفه) مخادع , ماكر (فعل) يخدع , يتظاهر ب‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮תרגיל הסחה‬
v. intr. - ‮ערך תרגיל הסחה‬
v. tr. - ‮הטעה‬


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