infirm

infirm
infirmly, adv.infirmness, n.
/in ferrm"/, adj.
1. feeble or weak in body or health, esp. because of age; ailing.
2. unsteadfast, faltering, or irresolute, as persons or the mind; vacillating: infirm of purpose.
3. not firm, solid, or strong: an infirm support.
4. unsound or invalid, as an argument or a property title.
v.t.
5. to invalidate.
[1325-75; ME infirme < L infirmus. See IN-3, FIRM1]
Syn. 1, 3, 4. weak. 2. wavering, indecisive. 3. rickety, tottering, shaky, unsteady.
Ant. 1, 2, 3. strong.

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  • infirm — INFÍRM, Ă, infirmi, e, adj., s.m. şi f. (Persoană) care are o infirmitate; schilod, neputincios, invalid, beteag. – Din fr. infirme, lat. infirmus. Trimis de valeriu, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98  Infirm ≠ valid, întreg, teafăr Trimis de siveco, 03 …   Dicționar Român

  • Infirm — In*firm ([i^]n*f[ e]rm ), a. [L. infirmus: cf. F. infirme. See {In } not, and {Firm}, a.] 1. Not firm or sound; weak; feeble; as, an infirm body; an infirm constitution. [1913 Webster] A poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man. Shak. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • infirm — I (irresolute) adjective changeable, easily led, faint hearted, faltering, fickle, inconstant, indecisive insecure, pliable, precarious, undecided, undetermined, unreliable, unresolved, unstable, unsteady, untrustworthy, vacillating, wavering II… …   Law dictionary

  • infirm — [in fʉrm′] adj. [ME < L infirmus] 1. not firm or strong physically; weak; feeble, as from old age 2. not firm in mind or purpose; not resolute; vacillating 3. not stable, firm, or sound; frail; shaky, as a structure 4. not secure or valid [an… …   English World dictionary

  • Infirm — In*firm , v. t. [L. infirmare : cf. F. infirmer.] To weaken; to enfeeble. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Infirm — (v. lat.), schwach, kraftlos. Infirmiren, schwächen, entkräften, ungiltig machen. Infirmativ, schwächend, ungiltig machend. Daher Infirmität, 1) Schwäche, Unvermögen, Gebrechen; 2) Infirmitäten, Beinkleider u. Vorrichtungen, wodurch Geistliche u …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Infirm — Infirm, lat. deutsch, schwach, krank; infirmarium, Krankenhaus od. Krankenstube; i.iren, entkräften; ungiltig machen; i.ativ, ungiltig machend; I.ität, Schwäche, Krankheit …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • infirm — (adj.) late 14c., weak, unsound (of things), from L. infirmus weak, frail, feeble (figuratively superstitious, pusillanimous, inconstant ), from in not, opposite of (see IN (Cf. in ) (1)) + firmus (see FIRM (Cf. firm) (adj.)). Of persons, not… …   Etymology dictionary

  • infirm — feeble, decrepit, *weak, frail, fragile Analogous words: debilitated, disabled, crippled (see WEAKEN) Antonyms: hale Contrasted words: *strong, sturdy, stalwart, stout: *healthy, robust, sound …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • infirm — [adj] sick, weak ailing, anemic, anile, debilitated, decrepit, delicate, enfeebled, failing, faint, faltering, feeble, flimsy, fragile, frail, halting, ill, insecure, irresolute, laid low*, lame, sensile, shaky, unsound, unstable, unsubstantial,… …   New thesaurus

  • infirm — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ physically weak. ORIGIN Latin infirmus, from in not + firmus firm …   English terms dictionary

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