weakness

noun (weakness — uncountable; a weakness, weaknesses)

«weakness» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

Everyday

Weakness is the state of not being strong in body: «weakness in her legs». tree →
A weakness is a part of something or someone that is not good or strong enough: «Spelling is my weakness». tree →
A weakness for something means you like it very much and find it hard to resist: «a weakness for chocolate». tree →

In the lessons

In school, pupils think about their strengths and weaknesses so they know what to practise. In health lessons, sudden weakness can be a sign of illness and needs an adult's help. In stories, every hero or villain has a weakness (Superman and kryptonite, Achilles and his heel). In engineering, a weakness in a bridge or wall is where it could break. Phrases: «strengths and weaknesses», «a weakness for», «a sign of weakness».

Examples

Spelling is my weakness, but I'm getting better. tree →
Write down your strengths and weaknesses. tree →
Kryptonite is Superman's weakness. tree →
Gran has a weakness for cake. tree →
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. tree →
The engineer found a weakness in the wall. tree →
The illness caused weakness in his arms. tree →
It was not long, however, before he had cause to regret his weakness. tree →

Note

Plural: weaknesses. From «weak» + -ness. Opposite: strength. Asking for help, or crying, is not weakness.

In Jewish tradition

In Sefer Yetzirah it is one of the pairs of opposites that the double letters stand for.

Interpretation. The book teaches that the seven double letters each have a hard and a soft sound, and each stands for a pair of opposites such as strength and weakness.

Examples

The [33] seven double letters, בגד כפרת with a duplicity of pronunciation, aspirated and unaspirated, namely: ,תּת ,רּר ,פּפ ,כּכ ,דּד ,גּג ,בּב serve as a model of softness and hardness, strength and weakness. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
And I say: 'This is my weakness, that the right hand of the Most High could change. (Writings PSA.77.11, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural: weaknesses. From «weak» + -ness. Opposite: strength. Asking for help, or crying, is not weakness.

On Mova

Trees and pragmatics of «weakness» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«weakness» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «weakness» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«weakness» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.

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