Feeble Meaning
/ˈfiːbəl/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjDeficient in physical strength.
adjLacking force, vigor, or effectiveness in action or expression; faint.
Sentence Examples
The old lady has been rather feeble since her illness.
The feeble patient is suffering from stomach cancer.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the long illness, the old man's voice sounded ____ and exhausted.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The old man made a ____ attempt to lift the heavy box, but he soon had to give up and ask for help.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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."
— 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 2:
"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"
— 2003, “Figure Number Five”, performed by Soilwork:
"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."
— 2011 October 23, Tom Fordyce, “2011 Rugby World Cup final: New Zealand 8-7 France”, in BBC Sport:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the long illness, the old man's voice sounded ____ and exhausted.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The old man made a ____ attempt to lift the heavy box, but he soon had to give up and ask for help.