Demerit vs Foible - What's the difference?
demerit | foible |
(senseid) A quality of being inadequate; a fault; a disadvantage
* Burke
* Sir W. Temple
A mark given for bad conduct to a person attending an educational institution or serving in the army.
*2002 , , by G.W.Bush:
*:A few of you have followed in the path of the perfect West Point graduate, Robert E. Lee, who never received a single demerit' in four years. Some of you followed in the path of the imperfect graduate, Ulysses S. Grant, who had his fair share of ' demerits , and said the happiest day of his life was "the day I left West Point." (Laughter.)
That which one merits or deserves, either of good or ill; desert.
* Holland
(archaic) To deserve.
* 1840 , Alexander Campbell, Dolphus Skinner, A discussion of the doctrines of the endless misery and universal salvation (page 351)
* Udall
(archaic) To depreciate or cry down.
* Bishop John Woolton
A quirk, idiosyncrasy, or mannerism; unusual habit or way (usage is typically plural), that is slightly strange or silly.
* 1915 ,
* 1959 , Meriden Record, "
(fencing) Part of a sword between the middle and the point, weaker than the forte.
A weakness or failing of character.
* 1932 , , by William Floyd
As nouns the difference between demerit and foible
is that demerit is (senseid) a quality of being inadequate; a fault; a disadvantage while foible is a quirk, idiosyncrasy, or mannerism; unusual habit or way (usage is typically plural), that is slightly strange or silly.As a verb demerit
is (archaic) to deserve.As an adjective foible is
(obsolete) weak; feeble.demerit
English
Noun
(en noun)- They see no merit or demerit in any man or any action.
- Secure, unless forfeited by any demerit or offense.
- By many benefits and demerits whereby they obliged their adherents, [they] acquired this reputation.
Synonyms
* discreditAntonyms
* meritDerived terms
* demerit pointVerb
(en verb)- You hold that every sin is an infinite evil, demeriting endless punishment.
- If I have demerited any love or thanks.
- Faith by her own dignity and worthiness doth not demerit justice and righteousness; but receiveth and embraceth the same offered unto us in the gospel
Anagrams
* * *foible
English
Noun
(en noun)- Try to look past his foibles and see the friendly fellow underneath.
- They made up for the respect with which unconsciously they treated him by laughing at his foibles and lamenting his vices.
An ounce of prevention", July 24 issue
- Final fillip in the Vice-President's study has been a boning up]] on Premier Khrushchev's favorite foible , proverbs. The bibulous Russian leader likes to throw out homely [[homily, homilies in his speeches and conversations..
- Jesus is reverenced as the one man who has lived unspotted by the world, free from human foibles , able to redeem mankind by his example.