Nearby Words
noun, plural -ties.
1.
an instance or point of weakness; feebleness; incapability.
2.
stupidity; silliness; absurdity.
3.
an instance of this.
4.
Psychology. (no longer in technical use; considered offensive) the state of being an imbecile.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To imbecility
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Imbecility
has a plethora of syllables.
So is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Does it mean:
| given to using long words. |
| (used as a nonsense word by children to express approval or to represent the longest word in English.) |
Collins
World English Dictionary
| imbecile | |
| —n | |
| 1. | psychol a person of very low intelligence (IQ of 25 to 50), usually capable only of guarding himself against danger and of performing simple mechanical tasks under supervision |
| 2. | informal an extremely stupid person; dolt |
| —adj | |
| 3. | of or like an imbecile; mentally deficient; feeble-minded |
| 4. | stupid or senseless: an imbecile thing to do |
| [C16: from Latin imbēcillus feeble (physically or mentally)] | |
| 'imbecilely | |
| —adv | |
| imbe'cilically | |
| —adv | |
| imbe'cility | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
imbecility
1530s, "weakness, feebleness, impotence," from L. imbecillitatem (nom. imbecillitas) "weakness, feebleness," from imbecillus "weak, feeble," traditionally said to mean "unsupported" (quasi sine baculo), from in- "not" + baculum "a stick." "Weakness in mind" (as opposed to body) was a secondary sense
EXPAND in Latin but was not attested in English until 1620s.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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