Both Uses of
feint
in
Oliver Twist
- Young as he was, however, he had sense enough to make a feint of feeling great regret at going away.†
Chpt 2 *
- As Mr. Bumble spoke, he made a melancholy feint of grasping his lantern with fierce determination; and plainly showed, by the alarmed expression of every feature, that he did want a little rousing, and not a little, prior to making any very warlike demonstration: unless, indeed, against paupers, or other person or persons trained down for the purpose.†
Chpt 38
Definition:
-
(feint) any distracting or deceptive maneuver; or the act of making the maneuvereditor's notes: Feint is most typically used for physical maneuvers as when boxing, fencing, or moving troops where a mock attack diverts attention from the real attack. But it can also be used much more generally as when Charlotte Bronte wrote of "a mere feint of politeness."