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n. 1. a. A military attack or maneuver that is meant to divert attention away from a planned point of attack. b. A body movement that is intended to divert another's attention, often by being deliberately left uncompleted: "The mongoose begins with a feint, which provokes the snake to strike" (Norbert Wiener). 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: "He feinted with his left hand, trying to distract the turtle and then grab its tail" (Howard Frank Mosher). v.tr. 1. To deceive with a feint: He feinted his opponent with a left hook. 2. To do or perform as a feint: feinted a punch. |
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