Catalan

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Etymology

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Inherited from Vulgar Latin *fēbelis, from Latin flēbilis (tearful, mournful, lamentable) by dissimilation, from fleō (to weep) (akin to fluō (to flow)).

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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feble m or f (masculine and feminine plural febles)

  1. weak, feeble
    Synonym: dèbil
    Antonym: fort

Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • Spanish: feble

Further reading

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Franco-Provençal

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Adjective

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feble (Old Dauphinois)

  1. Alternative form of fêblo (weak)

References

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Galician

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Etymology

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Attested since 1370. Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese febre, borrowed from Old Occitan feble or Old French feble, from Vulgar Latin *fēbelis, from Latin flēbilis (tearful, mournful, lamentable).

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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feble m or f (plural febles)

  1. feeble; weak
    Synonym: débil
    • 1370, R. Lorenzo, editor, Crónica troiana, A Coruña: Fundación Barrié, page 613:
      tu coydas que nós somos molleres mãsas et febres cõmo son as outras, et sabe que nós nõ somos taes
      you think that we are meek and feeble women, as the others, but you must know that we are not such
    • 1934, Vicente Risco, Mitteleuropa:
      Non istá lonxe, Rankestrasse; mais com'o vehículo non vai á présa, podolle coller o gusto no meio da baraúnda que m'axorda e m'impón. Endexamais me sintín tan extranxeiro nen tan badoco, doorosamente badoco dista volta, polo feble que m'achaba d'esprito.
      Rankestrasse is not far away; but, given that the vehicle is not going fast, I can appreciate the hubbub that deafens and impress me. Never in my life have I felt so estranger and rustic, painfully rustic this time because of how feeble my spirit felt.
  2. soft
    Synonyms: mol, suave

References

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Etymology

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febla (weak)-e

Adverb

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feble

  1. weakly, dimly, faintly, feebly, lightly, mildly

Middle English

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Etymology 1

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    From Anglo-Norman feble, from Latin flēbilis.

    Alternative forms

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    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /ˈfeːbəl/, /ˈfeːblə/

    Adjective

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    feble (plural and weak singular feble, comparative feblere, superlative feblest)

    1. Feeble, weak, or strengthless:
      1. Infirm, weak, or frail; lacking physical strength or capability.
      2. Cowardly, nervous, overcautious; lacking willpower.
      3. Unfaithful, unbelieving; lacking religious confidence.
      4. Unthinking, unwise; lacking mental acuity.
      5. Ineffective, weak; lacking power, strength, or magnitude.
      6. Easily damaged, broken, or bent; lacking sturdiness or robustness.
    2. Insidious, iniquitous; morally wrong or erroneous.
    3. Of bad quality, design, or keeping; shoddily constructed or maintained.
    4. Sad, grieving (because of misfortune or bad luck)
    5. (rare, money) Having a low precious metal content.
    Antonyms
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    Derived terms
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    Descendants
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    References
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    Etymology 2

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    From Anglo-Norman *feblir.

    Verb

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    feble

    1. Alternative form of feblen

    Occitan

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    Etymology

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    From Vulgar Latin *fēbelis, from Latin flēbilis (tearful, mournful, lamentable) by dissimilation.

    Pronunciation

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    • Audio (Béarn):(file)

    Adjective

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    feble m (feminine singular febla, masculine plural febles, feminine plural feblas)

    1. weak, feeble
      Synonym: debil

    Derived terms

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    Old French

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    Alternative forms

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    Etymology

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    From Vulgar Latin *fēbelis, from Latin flēbilis (tearful, mournful, lamentable) by dissimilation.

    Adjective

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    feble m (oblique and nominative feminine singular feble)

    1. weak; feeble

    Derived terms

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    Descendants

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    Spanish

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    Etymology

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    Borrowed from Catalan feble, from Vulgar Latin *fēbelis, from Latin flēbilis (tearful, mournful, lamentable).

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /ˈfeble/ [ˈfe.β̞le]
    • Rhymes: -eble
    • Syllabification: fe‧ble

    Adjective

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    feble m or f (masculine and feminine plural febles)

    1. feeble
      Synonym: débil

    Further reading

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