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Imbecile vs Goofy - What's the difference?

imbecile | goofy |

As a noun imbecile

is (obsolete) a person with limited (l) (l) who can perform (l) and think only like a young child, in medical circles meaning a person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal five to seven-year-old child.

As an adjective imbecile

is (dated) destitute of strength, whether of body or mind; feeble; impotent; especially, mentally weak.

As a proper noun goofy is

a character: a slow-witted anthropomorphic dog with a goofy laugh.

imbecile

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete) A person with limited (l) (l) who can perform (l) and think only like a young child, in medical circles meaning a person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal five to seven-year-old child.
  • (pejorative) A .

    • Usage notes

    * In modern times, “imbecile” is often used in (l) (l).

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * imbecilic (adjective) * imbecility (noun)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (dated) Destitute of strength, whether of body or mind; feeble; impotent; especially, mentally weak.
    • hospitals for the imbecile and insane

    goofy

    English

    Etymology 1

    Adjective

    (er)
  • silly, quirky
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=December 29 , author=Paul Doyle , title=Arsenal's Theo Walcott hits hat-trick in thrilling victory over Newcastle , work=The Guardian citation , page= , passage=Glorious attacking and goofy defending: here was a match that encapsulated the madcap appeal of this season's Premier League.}}

    Derived terms

    * goofily * goofiness

    Etymology 2

    From the way the Disney character was first depicted surfing, with right foot forward. BBC Sport, "Sochi 2014: A jargon-busting guide to the halfpipe", 11 February 2014

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (snowboarding) riding with right foot forward.

    • Related terms

    * (snowboarding) goofy-foot

    Antonyms

    * (snowboarding) regular

    Coordinate terms

    * (snowboarding) switch

    References