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weaken - 4 dictionary results

weak⋅en

[wee-kuhn]
–verb (used with object)
1. to make weak or weaker.
2. Phonetics. to change (a speech sound) to an articulation requiring less effort, as from geminate to nongeminate or from stop to fricative.
–verb (used without object)
3. to become weak or weaker.

Origin:
1520–30; weak + -en 1


weak⋅en⋅er, noun


1, 3. enfeeble, debilitate, enervate, undermine, sap, exhaust, deplete, lessen, diminish, lower, reduce, impair, minimize, invalidate.


1, 3. strengthen.
weak·en   (wē'kən)   
tr. & intr.v.   weak·ened, weak·en·ing, weak·ens
To make or become weak or weaker.
weak'en·er n.

Weaken

Weak"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Weakened; p. pr. & vb. n. Weakening.]

1. To make weak; to lessen the strength of; to deprive of strength; to debilitate; to enfeeble; to enervate; as, to weaken the body or the mind; to weaken the hands of a magistrate; to weaken the force of an objection or an argument.

Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. --Neh. vi. 9.

2. To reduce in quality, strength, or spirit; as, to weaken tea; to weaken any solution or decoction.

Weaken

Weak"en\, v. i. To become weak or weaker; to lose strength, spirit, or determination; to become less positive or resolute; as, the patient weakened; the witness weakened on cross-examination. "His notion weakens, his discernings are lethargied." --Shak.
Language Translation for : weaken
Spanish: debilitar(se),
German: schwächen,
Japanese: 弱る
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