feeble

Deficient in physical strength.

Adjective

  1. Deficient in physical strength.
    • Though she appeared old and feeble, she could still throw a ball.
    • Pent up in Utica he vainly forms A poor Epitome of Roman Greatneſs, And, cover’d with Numidian Guards, directs A feeble Army, and an empty Senate, Remnants of mighty Battels fought in vain. - 1712 (date written),...
    • You've had your time Gonna walk that line Like a living travesty, Endlessly bound to your sins I'll hunt you down in time You're just a feeble swine How can I compromise When all you do is deny - 2003, “Figure Number...
  2. Lacking force, vigor, or effectiveness in action or expression; faint.
    • That was a feeble excuse for an example.

Origin

Etymology tree Anglo-Norman feblebor. Middle English feble English feeble From Middle English feble, from Anglo-Norman feble (“weak, feeble”) (compare French faible), from Latin flēbilis (“tearful, mournful, lamentable”) by dissimilation, from fleō (“to weep, cry”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁-. Doublet of foible.

Forms

feebler feeblest

Synonyms

weak infirm debilitated faint

Derived

enfeeble feeble-brained feeble-minded feebleness feeblesome feeblish feebly forcible-feeble overfeeble unfeeble

Verb

  1. To make feeble; to enfeeble.

Forms

feebles feebling feebled