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imbecilic

 - 2 dictionary results

im⋅be⋅cil⋅ic

  [im-buh-sil-ik]
Use imbecilic in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of an imbecile.
2. contemptibly stupid, silly, or inappropriate: an imbecilic suggestion.
Origin:
1915–20; imbecile + -ic

Synonyms:
2. idiotic, stupid, asinine.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To imbecilic
im·be·cile   (ĭm'bə-sĭl, -səl)   
n.  

  1. A stupid or silly person; a dolt.

  2. A person whose mental acumen is well below par.

  3. A person of moderate to severe mental retardation having a mental age of from three to seven years and generally being capable of some degree of communication and performance of simple tasks under supervision. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.

adj.   also im·be·cil·ic (ĭm'bə-sĭl'ĭk)

  1. Stupid; silly.

  2. Well below par in mental acumen.


[From obsolete French imbécille, weak, feeble, from Old French, from Latin imbēcillus : in-, not; see in-1 + possibly bacillum, staff, diminutive of baculum, rod; see bak- in Indo-European roots.]
im'be·cile·ly 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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