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Webster 1913 Edition


Imbecility

Imˊbe-cil′i-ty

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Imbecilities
(#)
.
[L.
imbecillitas
: cf. F.
imbécillité
.]
The quality of being imbecile; weakness; feebleness, esp. of mind.
Cruelty . . . argues not only a depravedness of nature, but also a meanness of courage and
imbecility
of mind.
Sir W. Temple.
Syn. – Debility; infirmity; weakness; feebleness; impotence. See
Debility
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Imbecility

IMBECIL'ITY

,
Noun.
[L. imbecillitas.]
1.
Want of strength; weakness; feebleness of body or of mind. We speak of the imbecility of the body or of the intellect, when either does not possess the usual strength and vigor that belongs to men, and which is necessary to a due performance of its functions. This may be natural, or induced by violence or disease.
2.
Impotence of males; inability to procreate children.

Definition 2024


imbecility

imbecility

English

Noun

imbecility (countable and uncountable, plural imbecilities)

  1. The quality of being imbecile; weakness; feebleness, especially of mind.
  2. Something imbecilic; a stupid action, behaviour, etc.
    • 1895, Degeneration, New York: D. Appleton and Company, translation of Entartung by Max Simon Nordau, page 270:
      The Parnassian theory of art is mere imbecility.

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