different between weakly vs feeble

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?wi?kli/
• Rhymes: -i?k.li
• Homophone: weekly

Etymology 1

From weak +? -ly; compare Old English w?cl?? (“weak; ignoble; mean”), and Old Norse veikligr (“weakly; sick”); both ultimately from Proto-Germanic *waikal?kaz (“weakly; weak”).

Adjective

weakly (comparative weaklier, superlative weakliest)

1. Frail, sickly or of a delicate constitution; weak.

Derived terms

Etymology 2

From Middle English weykly, equivalent to weak +? -ly. Compare Old High German weihl?cho (“weakly”), Middle English wocliche, wokli, wacliche (both from Proto-Germanic *waikal?k?).

Adverb

weakly (comparative more weakly, superlative most weakly)

1. With little strength or force.

Derived terms

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English feble, from Anglo-Norman feble (“weak, feeble”) (compare French faible), from Latin fl?bilis (“tearful, mournful, lamentable”). Doublet of foible.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fi?b?l/
• Rhymes: -i?b?l

Adjective

feeble (comparative feebler, superlative feeblest)

1. Deficient in physical strength

   Though she appeared old and feeble, she could still throw a ball.
2. Lacking force, vigor, or efficiency in action or expression; faint.

   That was a feeble excuse for an example.

Synonyms

• (physically weak): weak, infirm, debilitated
• (wanting force, vigor or efficiency): faint

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

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

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

References

• feeble in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• feeble in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• beflee

Middle English

Adjective

feeble

1. Alternative form of feble