Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Weak
Weak
(wēk)
, Adj.
[
Com
par.
Weaker
(wēk′ẽr)
; sup
erl.
Weakest
.] [OE.
weik
, Icel. veikr
; akin to Sw. vek
, Dan. veg
soft, flexible, pliant, AS. wāc
weak, soft, pliant, D. week
, G. weich
, OHG. weih
; all from the verb seen in Icel. vīkja
to turn, veer, recede, AS. wīcan
to yield, give way, G. weichen
, OHG. wīhhan
, akin to Skr. vij
, and probably to E. week
, L. vicis
a change, turn, Gr. εἴκειν
to yield, give way. √132. Cf. Week
, Wink
, Verb.
I.
Vicissitude
.] 1.
Wanting physical strength.
Specifically: –(a)
Deficient in strength of body; feeble; infirm; sickly; debilitated; enfeebled; exhausted.
A poor, infirm,
weak
, and despised old man. Shakespeare
Weak
with hunger, mad with love. Dryden.
(b)
Not able to sustain a great weight, pressure, or strain;
as, a
. weak
timber; a weak
rope(c)
Not firmly united or adhesive; easily broken or separated into pieces; not compact;
as, a
. weak
ship(d)
Not stiff; pliant; frail; soft;
as, the
. weak
stalk of a plant(e)
Not able to resist external force or onset; easily subdued or overcome;
as, a
. weak
barrier; as, a weak
fortress(f)
Lacking force of utterance or sound; not sonorous; low; small; feeble; faint.
A voice not soft,
weak
, piping, and womanish. Ascham.
(g)
Not thoroughly or abundantly impregnated with the usual or required ingredients, or with stimulating and nourishing substances; of less than the usual strength;
as,
. weak
tea, broth, or liquor; a weak
decoction or solution; a weak
dose of medicine(h)
Lacking ability for an appropriate function or office;
as,
. weak
eyes; a weak
stomach; a weak
magistrate; a weak
regiment, or army2.
Not possessing or manifesting intellectual, logical, moral, or political strength, vigor, etc.
Specifically: -(a)
Feeble of mind; wanting discernment; lacking vigor; spiritless;
as, a
. weak
king or magistrateTo think every thing disputable is a proof of a
weak
mind and captious temper. Beattie.
Origen was never
weak
enough to imagine that there were two Gods. Waterland.
(b)
Resulting from, or indicating, lack of judgment, discernment, or firmness; unwise; hence, foolish.
If evil thence ensue,
She first his
She first his
weak
indulgence will accuse. Milton.
(c)
Not having full confidence or conviction; not decided or confirmed; vacillating; wavering.
Him that is
weak
in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. Rom. xiv. 1.
(d)
Not able to withstand temptation, urgency, persuasion, etc.; easily impressed, moved, or overcome; accessible; vulnerable;
as,
. weak
resolutions; weak
virtueGuard thy heart
On this
On this
weak
side, where most our nature fails. Addison.
(e)
Wanting in power to influence or bind;
as,
. weak
ties; a weak
sense of honor of duty(f)
Not having power to convince; not supported by force of reason or truth; unsustained;
“Convinced of his weak arguing.” as, a
. weak
argument or caseMilton.
A case so
weak
. . . hath much persisted in. Hooker.
(g)
Wanting in point or vigor of expression;
as, a
. weak
sentence; a weak
style(h)
Not prevalent or effective, or not felt to be prevalent; not potent; feeble.
“Weak prayers.” Shak.
(i)
Lacking in elements of political strength; not wielding or having authority or energy; deficient in the resources that are essential to a ruler or nation;
as, a
. weak
monarch; a weak
government or stateI must make fair weather yet awhile,
Till Henry be more
Till Henry be more
weak
, and I more strong. Shakespeare
(k)
(Stock Exchange)
Tending towards lower prices;
as, a
. weak
market3.
(Gram.)
(a)
Pertaining to, or designating, a verb which forms its preterit (imperfect) and past participle by adding to the present the suffix -ed, -d, or the variant form -t; as in the verbs abash, abashed; abate, abated; deny, denied; feel, felt. See
Strong
, 19 (a)
. (b)
Pertaining to, or designating, a noun in Anglo-Saxon, etc., the stem of which ends in -n. See
Strong
, 19 (b)
. ☞
Weak
is often used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, weak
-eyed, weak
-handed, weak
-hearted, weak
-minded, weak
-spirited, and the like. Weak conjugation
(Gram.)
, the conjugation of weak verbs; – called also
– new conjugation
, or regular conjugation
, and distinguished from the old conjugation
, or irregular conjugation
. Weak declension
(Anglo-Saxon Gram.)
, the declension of weak nouns; also, one of the declensions of adjectives.
– Weak side
, the side or aspect of a person’s character or disposition by which he is most easily affected or influenced; weakness; infirmity.
– weak sore
or
weak ulcer
(Med.)
, a sore covered with pale, flabby, sluggish granulations.
Weak
,Verb.
T.
& I.
To make or become weak; to weaken.
[R.]
Never to seek
weaking
variety. Marston.
Webster 1828 Edition
Weak
WEAK
,Adj.
1.
Having little physical strength; feeble. Children are born weak; men are rendered weak by disease.2.
Infirm; not healthy; as a weak constitution.3.
Not able to bear a great weight; as a weak bridge; weak timber.4.
Not strong; not compact; easily broken; as a weak ship; a weak rope.5.
Not able to resist a violent attack; as a weak fortress.6.
Soft; pliant; not stiff.7.
Low; small; feeble; as a weak voice.8.
Feeble of mind; wanting spirit; wanting vigor of understanding; as a weak prince; a weak magistrate.To think every thing disputable, si a proof of a weak mind and captious temper.
9.
Not much impregnated with ingredients, or with things that excite action, or with stimulating and nourishing substances; as weak broth; weak tea; weak toddy; a weak solution; a weak decoction.10.
Not politically powerful; as a weak nation or state.11.
Not having force of authority or energy; as a weak government.12.
Not having moral force or power to convince; not well supported by truth or reason; as a weak argument.13.
Not well supported by argument; as weak reasoning.14.
Unfortified; accessible; impressible; as the weak side of a person.15.
Not having full conviction or confidence; as weak in faith.16.
Weak land is land of a light thin soil. [I believe never used in New England.]WEAK
,Verb.
T.
WEAK
,Verb.
I.