Feinted Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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feinted

[feษชntษชd ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

action, strategy

Feinted refers to a deceptive movement designed to distract or mislead an opponent. It is commonly used in contexts such as sports or martial arts to confuse an adversary, making them think one thing will happen while something else occurs.

Synonyms

deceived, misled, pretended, simulated.

Examples of usage

  • The boxer feinted to the left before delivering a powerful right hook.
  • During the match, she feinted a pass to throw off the defender.
  • He feinted an attack, causing his opponent to misjudge his next move.

Translations

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Origin of 'feinted'

The term 'feinted' originates from the Middle French word 'feinter', which means to feign or pretended. The root of the word can be traced back to the Latin 'fingere', meaning to shape, fashion, or mold. The action of feinting has been a strategy in various forms of combat and sports throughout history, particularly in fencing and martial arts where misdirection is key to gaining an advantage over one's opponent. Over time, the usage of the term broadened to include any kind of deceptive movement meant to confuse or mislead in both physical and metaphorical contexts.