8 results for: Foible

(Browse Nearby Entries)

fohns

FOHO

FOHR

FOHS

FOHT

FOI

FOIA

FOIA/PA

Foible

foibles

FOIC

FOICB

FOID

foie gras

FoIKS

foil

Foil stone

FOILA

Foilable

foilborne

Foiled

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

foi·ble

Audio Help [foi-buh

–noun

1.	a minor weakness or failing of character; slight flaw or defect: an all-too-human foible.

2.	the weaker part of a sword blade, between the middle and the point (opposed to forte).

[Origin: 1640–50; < F, obs. form of faible feeble

]

—Synonyms 1. frailty, quirk, crotchet, eccentricity, peculiarity. See fault.

—Antonyms 1. strength.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Foible

To learn more about Foible visit Britannica.com

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

foi·ble Audio Help (foi'bəl) Pronunciation Key
n.

A minor weakness or failing of character.
The weaker section of a sword blade, from the middle to the tip.

[Obsolete French foible, weak point of a sword, weak, from Old French feble, weak; see feeble.]

(Download Now or Buy the Book)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
foible

1648, "weak point of a sword blade" (contrasted to forte), from Fr. foible (adj.) "weak," from O.Fr. foible "feeble," dissimilated from L. flebilis (see feeble). Extended sense of "weak point of character" is first recorded 1673.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

foible
noun
1.	a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual [syn: idiosyncrasy]
2.	the weaker part of a sword's blade from the forte to the tip

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Foible

Fault\, n. [OE. faut, faute, F. faute (cf. It., Sp., & Pg. falta), fr. a verb meaning to want, fail, freq., fr. L. fallere to deceive. See Fail, and cf. Default.]

1. Defect; want; lack; default.

One, it pleases me, for fault of a better, to call my friend. --Shak.

2. Anything that fails, that is wanting, or that impairs excellence; a failing; a defect; a blemish.

As patches set upon a little breach Discredit more in hiding of the fault. --Shak.

3. A moral failing; a defect or dereliction from duty; a deviation from propriety; an offense less serious than a crime.

4. (Geol. & Mining) (a) A dislocation of the strata of the vein. (b) In coal seams, coal rendered worthless by impurities in the seam; as, slate fault, dirt fault, etc. --Raymond.

5. (Hunting) A lost scent; act of losing the scent.

Ceasing their clamorous cry till they have singled, With much ado, the cold fault cleary out. --Shak.

6. (Tennis) Failure to serve the ball into the proper court.

At fault, unable to find the scent and continue chase; hence, in trouble or embarrassment, and unable to proceed; puzzled; thrown off the track.

To find fault, to find reason for blaming or complaining; to express dissatisfaction; to complain; -- followed by with before the thing complained of; but formerly by at. "Matter to find fault at." --Robynson (More's Utopia).

Syn: -- Error; blemish; defect; imperfection; weakness; blunder; failing; vice.

Usage: Fault, Failing, Defect, Foible. A fault is positive, something morally wrong; a failing is negative, some weakness or falling short in a man's character, disposition, or habits; a defect is also negative, and as applied to character is the absence of anything which is necessary to its completeness or perfection; a foible is a less important weakness, which we overlook or smile at. A man may have many failings, and yet commit but few faults; or his faults and failings may be few, while his foibles are obvious to all. The faults of a friend are often palliated or explained away into mere defects, and the defects or foibles of an enemy exaggerated into faults. "I have failings in common with every human being, besides my own peculiar faults; but of avarice I have generally held myself guiltless." --Fox. "Presumption and self-applause are the foibles of mankind." --Waterland.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Foible

Fee"ble\ (f[=e]"b'l), a. [Compar. Feebler (-bl[~e]r); superl. Feeblest (-bl[e^]st).] [OE. feble, OF. feble, flebe, floibe, floible, foible, F. faible, L. flebilis to be wept over, lamentable, wretched, fr. flere to weep. Cf. Foible.]

1. Deficient in physical strength; weak; infirm; debilitated.

Carried all the feeble of them upon asses. --2 Chron. xxviii. 15.

2. Wanting force, vigor, or efficiency in action or expression; not full, loud, bright, strong, rapid, etc.; faint; as, a feeble color; feeble motion. "A lady's feeble voice." --Shak.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Foible

Foi"ble\, a. [OF. foible. See Feeble.] Weak; feeble. [Obs.] --Lord Herbert.

View results from: Dictionary | Thesaurus | Encyclopedia | All Reference | the Web