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feeble

 - 3 dictionary results

fee⋅ble

  [fee-buhl]
–adjective, -bler, -blest.
1. physically weak, as from age or sickness; frail.
2. weak intellectually or morally: a feeble mind.
3. lacking in volume, loudness, brightness, distinctness, etc.: a feeble voice; feeble light.
4. lacking in force, strength, or effectiveness: feeble resistance; feeble arguments.
Use feeble in a Sentence
Origin:
1125–75; ME feble < OF, var. of fleible (by dissimilation) < L flēbilis lamentable, equiv. to flē(re) to weep + -bilis -ble

Related forms:
fee⋅ble⋅ness, noun
feeblish, adjective
feebly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. See weak.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To feeble
fee·ble   (fē'bəl)   
adj.   fee·bler, fee·blest

    1. Lacking strength; weak.

    2. Indicating weakness.

  2. Lacking vigor, force, or effectiveness; inadequate. See Synonyms at weak.


[Middle English feble, from Old French, from Latin flēbilis, lamentable, from flēre, to weep.]
fee'ble·ness n., fee'bly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

feeble 
c.1175, from O.Fr. feible, by dissimilation from L. flebilis "lamentable," lit. "that is to be wept over," from flere "weep." The first -l- was dropped in O.Fr. by dissimilation.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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