Nearby Words

feeble

[fee-buhl] Origin

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.

Origin:
1125–75; Middle English feble < Old French, variant of fleible (by dissimilation) < Latin flēbilis lamentable, equivalent to flē(re) to weep + -bilis -ble

fee·ble·ness, noun
fee·blish, adjective
fee·bly, adverb
non·fee·ble, adjective
non·fee·ble·ness, noun
EXPAND
non·fee·b·ly, adverb
un·fee·ble, adjective
un·fee·ble·ness, noun
un·fee·b·ly, adverb
COLLAPSE


1. See weak.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Feeble is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
Collins
World English Dictionary
feeble (ˈfiːbəl)
 
adj
1.  lacking in physical or mental strength; frail; weak
2.  inadequate; unconvincing: feeble excuses
3.  easily influenced or indecisive
 
[C12: from Old French feble, fleible, from Latin flēbilis to be lamented, from flēre to weep]
 
'feebleness
 
n
 
'feebly
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

feeble
late 12c., from O.Fr. feible, 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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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