different between infirm vs languid

English

Etymology

From Middle English infirme, from Latin infirmus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?f?m/
• Rhymes: -??(?)m

Adjective

infirm (comparative infirmer, superlative infirmest)

1. Weak or ill, not in good health.

   He was infirm of body but still keen of mind, and though it looked like he couldn't walk across the room, he crushed me in debate.

   • c. 1605, William Shakespeare, King Lear, Act III, Scene 2,^[1]

     […] Here I stand your slave,

     A poor, infirm, weak, and despis’d old man.

2. Irresolute; weak of mind or will.
   • c. 1605, William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act II, Scene 2,^[2]

     Infirm of purpose!

     Give me the daggers: […]

   • 1797, Edmund Burke, A Third Letter to a Member of the Present Parliament: On the Proposals for Peace with the Regicide Directory of France, London: F.&C. Rivington, p. 30,^[3]

     […] vehement passion does not always indicate an infirm judgment.

3. Frail; unstable; insecure.
   • 1667, Robert South, “The Practice of Religion Enforced by Reason” in Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, London: Thomas Bennet, p. 3,^[4]

     He who fixes upon false Principles, treads upon Infirm ground, and so sinks […]

Synonyms

• crank, ill, sick, unwell

Related terms

• infirmary

Translations

Verb

infirm (third-person singular simple present infirms, present participle infirming, simple past and past participle infirmed)

1. To contradict, to provide proof that something is not.

   The thought is that you see an episode of observation, experiment, or reasoning as confirming or infirming a hypothesis depending on whether your probability for it increases or decreases during the episode.

Synonyms

• disconfirm

Antonyms

• confirm

Derived terms

• infirmation

Translations

Anagrams

• Firmin

Romanian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /in?firm/

Etymology 1

Borrowed from French infirme, from Latin infirmus.

Adjective

infirm m or n (feminine singular infirm?, masculine plural infirmi, feminine and neuter plural infirme)

1. crippled

   Synonyms: invalid, schilod, beteag

Declension

Related terms

• infirmitate

Noun

infirm m (plural infirmi, feminine equivalent infirm?)

1. cripple, invalid

   Synonyms: invalid, schilod

Declension

Etymology 2

Inflected form of infirma (“to invalidate”).

Verb

infirm

1. inflection of infirma:
   1. first-person singular present indicative
   2. first-person singular present subjunctive

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?læ?.?w?d/

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Latin languidus (“faint, weak, dull, sluggish, languid”).

Adjective

languid (comparative more languid, superlative most languid)

1. Lacking enthusiasm, energy, or strength; drooping or flagging from weakness, fatigue, or lack of energy
   • March 10 1753, (attributed to) Samuel Johnson, The Adventurer

     As love without esteem is capricious and volatile; esteem without love is languid and cold.

   • 23 March 1816, Jane Austen, letter to Fanny

     I was languid and dull and very bad company when I wrote the above; I am better now, to my own feelings at least, and wish I may be more agreeable.

   • 1848, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair, Chapter 21:

     George had an air at once swaggering and melancholy, languid and fierce.

2. Heavy; dull; dragging; wanting spirit or animation; listless; apathetic.

Synonyms

• exhausted
• faint
• listless
• swear/sweer
• weak
• weary

Derived terms

• languidly

Related terms

• languish
• languor
• languorous

Translations

Etymology 2

Alteration of languet.

Noun

languid (plural languids)

1. A languet in an organ (musical instrument).
   • 1913, Standard Organ Building, page 150:

     As may be required, a small hole is bored in either of the languids, or in the back of the pipe in the space between the two languids. By this means, in addition to the current of air passing between the languids and the lower lip, […]

References

• languid in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• Gauldin, dualing, lauding