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Wiktionary

feeble

English

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Etymology

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    Etymology tree
    Anglo-Norman feblebor.
    Middle English feble
    English feeble

    From Middle English feble, from Anglo-Norman feble (“weak, feeble”) (compare French faible), from Latin flēbilis (“tearful, mournful, lamentable”) by dissimilation, from fleō (“I weep, cry”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁-. Doublet of foible.

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /ˈfiːbəl/
    • Audio (US):(file)
    • Rhymes: -iːbəl

    Adjective

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    feeble (comparative feebler, superlative feeblest)

    1. Deficient in physical strength.
      Though she appeared old and feeble, she could still throw a ball.
      • 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 2:
        Pent up in Utica he vainly forms
        A poor Epitome of Roman Greatneſs,
        And, cover’d with Numidian Guards, directs
        A feeble Army, and an empty Senate,
        Remnants of mighty Battels fought in vain.
      • 2003, “Figure Number Five”, performed by Soilwork:
        You've had your time
        Gonna walk that line
        Like a living travesty,
        Endlessly bound to your sins
        I'll hunt you down in time
        You're just a feeble swine
        How can I compromise
        When all you do is deny
      • 2011 October 23, Tom Fordyce, “2011 Rugby World Cup final: New Zealand 8-7 France”, in BBC Sport‎[1]:
        France were transformed from the feeble, divided unit that had squeaked past Wales in the semi-final, their half-backs finding the corners with beautifully judged kicks from hand, the forwards making yards with every drive and a reorganised Kiwi line-out beginning to malfunction.
    2. Lacking force, vigor, or effectiveness in action or expression; faint.
      That was a feeble excuse for an example.

    Synonyms

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    Derived terms

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    Translations

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    Verb

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    feeble (third-person singular simple present feebles, present participle feebling, simple past and past participle feebled)

    1. (obsolete) To make feeble; to enfeeble.

    References

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    Anagrams

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    Middle English

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    Adjective

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    feeble

    1. Alternative form of feble
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