Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Literally, do-nothing; specifically, an epithet applied to the later Merovingian kings of France, who were puppets in the hands of the mayors of the palace.
  • noun A do-nothing; a lazy, shiftless fellow.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Doing nothing; shiftless; disinclined to work or exertion.
  • noun A do-nothing; an idle fellow; a sluggard.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An irresponsible or lazy person.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective disinclined to work or exertion

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French fay neant, alteration of feignant ("idler"), present participle of feindre, modelled on fait ("does") + neant ("nothing").

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Examples

  • This is no Bonaparte, but a roi faineant, paraded at the head of an army he has no capacity to lead.

    Obama Nation 2010

  • This is no Bonaparte, but a roi faineant, paraded at the head of an army he has no capacity to lead.

    Current Affairs 2010

  • This is no Bonaparte, but a roi faineant, paraded at the head of an army he has no capacity to lead.

    Elections 2010 2010

  • This is no Bonaparte, but a roi faineant, paraded at the head of an army he has no capacity to lead.

    Economics 2010

  • This is no Bonaparte, but a roi faineant, paraded at the head of an army he has no capacity to lead.

    Stromata Blog: 2010

  • This is no Bonaparte, but a roi faineant, paraded at the head of an army he has no capacity to lead.

    Defeat Isn’t Really an Orphan 2010

  • This is no Bonaparte, but a roi faineant, paraded at the head of an army he has no capacity to lead.

    Stromata Blog 2010

  • Surtout de devoir ressupporter ce regard qui dit "t'es en trop chez nous on te foutrai bien dehors espece de sale faineant de merde"

    pinku-tk Diary Entry pinku-tk 2008

  • En plus cette annee j'avais evité de demander un amenagement des horaires pour pas passer pour un faineant et pouf!!

    pinku-tk Diary Entry pinku-tk 2007

  • On ne peut pas dire que je sois faineant, ni pas entreprnant!

    pinku-tk Diary Entry pinku-tk 2007

Comments

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  • a sluggard

    August 1, 2007