feeble
adjective (feeble, feebler, feeblest)
Everyday
- Very weak, without strength or energy. tree →
- Not good enough or not convincing: «a feeble excuse», «a feeble joke». tree →
In the lessons
In stories: an old or sick character has a feeble voice or feeble steps. In everyday life: «That's a feeble excuse!» means it is not a good reason. «Feeble light» is dim light.
Examples
- The baby bird was feeble and couldn't fly. tree →
- "Help," she said in a feeble voice. tree →
- That's a feeble excuse for not doing your homework! tree →
- The torch gave a feeble light. tree →
- He made a feeble attempt to lift the box. tree →
- The joke was so feeble nobody laughed. tree →
- Years went over, and the Giant grew very old and feeble. tree →
Note
Adverb: feebly. Opposite: strong, powerful. Can be unkind if said about a person; fine for excuses and jokes.
In Jewish tradition
Interpretation: Jacob's trick with the flocks gives him the stronger animals. Tradition sees his careful work as honest, since Laban had cheated him many times. Later books use "feeble" for weak knees and hands, and for weak creatures like the rock-badgers. Feeble hands show fear and loss of courage, and Job's friend praises those who strengthen the feeble. In the primary lessons: In stories: an old or sick character has a feeble voice or feeble steps. In everyday life: «That's a feeble excuse!» means it is not a good reason. «Feeble light» is dim light.
Examples
- but when the flock were feeble, he put them not in; so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. (Torah GEN.30.42, JPS 1917) tree →
- Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. (Writings JOB.4.4, JPS 1917) tree →
- The rock-badgers are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the crags; (Writings PRO.30.26, JPS 1917) tree →
- And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were affrighted. (Prophets 2SA.4.1, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
Adverb: feebly. Opposite: strong, powerful. Can be unkind if said about a person; fine for excuses and jokes.
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «feeble» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «feeble» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «feeble» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «feeble» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/feeble/