feeble
/ˈfiːbəl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.21 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Lacking force, vigor, or effectiveness in action or expression; faint.
Example Sentences
- "Though she appeared old and feeble, she could still throw a ball."
- "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."
- "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"
- "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."
- "That was a feeble excuse for an example."
Etymology
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 (“to weep, cry”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁-. Doublet of foible.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: feble, flēbilis, *bʰleh₁-