Feeble vs Feeble-minded - What's the difference?

feeble | feeble-minded | Related terms |

Feeble is a related term of feeble-minded.

As adjectives the difference between feeble and feeble-minded

is that feeble is deficient in physical strength; weak; infirm; debilitated while feeble-minded is weak in intellectual power; wanting firmness or constancy; lacking intelligence; irresolute; vacillating; imbecile.

As a verb feeble

is (obsolete) to make feeble; to enfeeble.

feeble

English

Adjective

(er)

Deficient in physical strength; weak; infirm; debilitated.

Though she appeared old and feeble , she could still throw a ball.

* {{quote-news

, year=2011 , date=October 23 , author=Tom Fordyce , title=2011 Rugby World Cup final: New Zealand 8-7 France , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=France were transformed from the feeble , divided unit that had squeaked past Wales in the semi-final, their half-backs finding the corners with beautifully judged kicks from hand, the forwards making yards with every drive and a reorganised Kiwi line-out beginning to malfunction.}}

Lacking force, vigor, or efficiency in action or expression; faint.

That was a feeble excuse for an example.

Synonyms

* (physically weak) weak, infirm, debilitated * faint

Derived terms

* enfeeble * feebleness * feeble-minded * feebly

Verb

(feebl)

(obsolete) To make feeble; to enfeeble.

References

* *

feeble-minded

English

(wikipedia feeble-minded)

Adjective

Weak in intellectual power; wanting firmness or constancy; lacking intelligence; irresolute; vacillating; imbecile.

Usage notes

This term was used loosely in the late 19th and the early 20th century to describe a variety of mental deficiencies, often in a medical context (as were cretin'', ''idiot'', ''imbecile'' and ''moron ). It was originally not meant to be considered a pejorative term. By the mid-20th century, it was no longer used in medical contexts and became considered a pejorative.