faiblissant

Faiblissant is the present participle of the French verb faiblir, meaning to become weaker or to diminish in strength. In addition to its verbal function, it can serve as an adjective describing a weakening state and is closely linked to the related noun faiblissement, which denotes the process of weakening or fading.

Form and usage: The present participle faiblissant is built from the stem faibl- with the suffix -issant. When used as an adjective, it agrees with gender and number (masculine singular: faiblissant; feminine singular: faiblissante; masculine plural: faiblissants; feminine plural: faiblissantes). It can also appear in the gerundial construction en faiblissant, meaning “while weakening” or “as it weakens.”

Semantic range: Faiblissant generally conveys gradual diminishment or fading, and can describe factors such as light, force, intensity, or interest. It is commonly found in literary, scientific, and descriptive contexts to suggest a process rather than a completed action.

Related forms: The root verb faiblir and the noun faiblissement are closely related, with faiblir used for the act of weakening and faiblissement for the ongoing process. A related verb, affaiblir, means to weaken more strongly or to debilitate, and its participles follow separate conjugation patterns.

See also: faiblir; faiblissement; affaiblir.