Nearby Words

flimsiness

[flim-zee] Origin

flim·sy

[flim-zee] adjective, -si·er, -si·est, noun, plural -sies.
adjective
1.
without material strength or solidity: a flimsy fabric; a flimsy structure.
2.
weak; inadequate; not effective or convincing: a flimsy excuse.
noun
3.
a thin kind of paper, especially for use in making several copies at a time of an article, telegraphic dispatch, or the like, as in newspaper work.
4.
a copy of a report or dispatch on such paper.

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Flimsiness is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

Origin:
1695–1705; flim- (perhaps metathetic variant of film) + -sy

flim·si·ly, adverb
flim·si·ness, noun


1. shoddy, weak, unstable, unsteady. 2. unconvincing, lame, vague.


1. sturdy.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
flimsy (ˈflɪmzɪ)
 
adj , -sier, -siest
1.  not strong or substantial; fragile: a flimsy building
2.  light and thin: a flimsy dress
3.  unconvincing or inadequate; weak: a flimsy excuse
 
n
4.  thin paper used for making carbon copies of a letter, etc
5.  a copy made on such paper
6.  a slang word for banknote
 
[C17: of uncertain origin]
 
'flimsily
 
adv
 
'flimsiness
 
n

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

flimsy
1702, perhaps a metathesis of film "gauzy covering."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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