feeble: [12] Semantically, feeble was originally a close relative of deplorable and lamentable, but over the centuries it has diverged markedly from them. Its ultimate source was Latin flēbilis, a derivative of the verb flēre ‘weep’. In classical times this meant literally ‘worthy of being cried over, lamentable’, but later it came to signify ‘weak’. It passed in this sense into Old French as fleible, which subsequently became feible or feble (source of English feeble), and later still foible (whence English foible [17]) and faible (the modern French form). => foible
feeble (adj.)
late 12c., "lacking strength or vigor" (physical, moral, or intellectual), from Old French feble "weak, feeble" (12c., Modern French faible), dissimilated from Latin flebilis "lamentable," literally "that is to be wept over," from flere "weep, cry, shed tears, lament," from PIE *bhle- "to howl" (see bleat (v.)). The first -l- was lost in Old French. The noun meaning "feeble person" is recorded from mid-14c.
雙語例句
1. He gave a feeble shrug and tried to squirm free.
他無力地聳聳肩，扭動身體想要掙脫。
來自柯林斯例句
2. The Observer found the play "a feeble rehash of familiar Miller themes"
《觀察家報》認為這部劇“是大家熟悉的米勒式主題的拙劣翻版”。
來自柯林斯例句
3. This is a particularly feeble argument.
這個論點尤其站不住腳。
來自柯林斯例句
4. a feeble old man
衰弱的老人
來自《權威詞典》
5. She made a feeble effort to get to school on time.