Noun

The quality of being imbecile; weakness; feebleness, especially of mind.

Something imbecilic; a stupid action, behaviour, etc.

* {{quote-book

, year= 1895 , year_published= , author= , by= (Max Simon Nordau) , title= Degeneration , url= http://books.google.com/books?id=LOWr5TsEaPUC&pg=PA270 , original= , chapter= , section= , isbn= , edition= , publisher= D. Appleton and Company , location= New York , editor= , volume= , page= 270 , passage= The Parnassian theory of art is mere imbecility . }}

Noun

(en noun)

A quirk, idiosyncrasy, or mannerism; unusual habit or way (usage is typically plural), that is slightly strange or silly.

Try to look past his foibles and see the friendly fellow underneath.

* 1915 ,

They made up for the respect with which unconsciously they treated him by laughing at his foibles and lamenting his vices.

* 1959 , Meriden Record, " 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..

(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

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.