| 释义 |
▪ I. weak, a. and n.|wiːk|
Forms: α. 3–5, 4–9 Sc., 9 dial. waik, (6 Sc. waek), 4–6 waike, wayk(e, (4 Sc. vayk, 5–6 Sc. vaik, vaike), 3–6 weik(e, weyk(e, (6 Sc. vaeik, veik). β. 4, 6 wek, 4 weck, 6 wecke; 5–6 weke, 4–7 weeke, 6–7 weake, 6– weak.
[a. ON. veik-r, corresponding to OE. wác: see woke a.
The earliest known examples are in the Cursor Mundi (a 1300, but MSS. 14th c.); the word gradually took the place of the corresponding native adj. (OE. wác, ME. woke) which did not survive beyond the 15th c. There seems to have been some difference of meaning between OE. wác and ON. veikr; in OE. the primary Teut. sense ‘yielding, not rigid or firm, pliant’ was still prominent, while in ON. it had developed into the sense ‘not strong’.
The β-forms show the same development of Scand. ei to ē which is found in bleak a. (earlier bleyke, ON. bleik-r), steak n. (ME. steke, steyke, ON. steik; still pron. dialectally with ī), and rean, var. of rain n.2 (ON. rein).
In mod. dialect literature the word is often written waik or wake. Graphically, these forms belong to the α group; but in certain areas it may be doubtful whether the shade of pronunciation denoted by the spelling descends from ME. ē or from ME. ei. As the normal Sc. representative of OE. wác is wake, which in late Scottish might have been written waik, it is possible that some of the Sc. examples given below belong etymologically to woke a. rather than to the present word.]
A. adj.
†1. Of a material thing: Pliant, flexible, readily bending. (Usually with implication of want of strength.) = woke a. 1. Obs.
The recognition of this sense by Johnson (who has been followed by later Dicts.) is remarkable; his authority has not been identified.
a1366Chaucer Rom. Rose 225 A mantel heng hir faste by, Upon a perche weyke and smalle [Fr. A une perche moult greslete]. c1440Promp. Parv. 520/1 Weyke, or lethy, lentus. 14..Sir Beues 647 (MS. M) All to lethy [MS. O weyke] the spere was wrought. c1480Henryson Age & Youth 13, I..saw ane catyf [Age]..cumand,..walowit & wane, waik as ane wand. 1500–20Dunbar Poems lv. 22 Sum, thocht tham selffis stark, lyk gyandis, Ar now maid waek lyk willing wandis. 1755Johnson, Weak, 3. Soft; pliant; not stiff. [Whence in later Dicts.]
2. a. Wanting in moral strength for endurance or resistance; lacking fortitude or courage, strength of purpose or will; unsteadfast, wavering.
1375Barbour Bruce viii. 340 [Thai] dang on thame so hardely That in schort tyme men mycht se by At erd ane hundreth weill, and mar; The remanand the vaykar war. a1425tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 7 He, forsoþ, þat is wayke of hert is noȝt in way of curacion. c1450J. Capgrave St. Augustine xxv. 34 The man was weyk and dred mech þe knyf. 1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 170 Peple villain and wayke in the faith. 1526Tindale Matt. xxvi. 41 The spirite ys willynge but the flesshe is weeke. c1540R. Morice in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 24 [He] being very moche combered with the concupisscence of the fleshe, and stryvyng gretely to suppresse the same, felt himself to wek to overcom it. 1593Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iv. i. 12 Which are so weake of courage..That they'le take no offence at our abuse. 1667Milton P.L. viii. 532 Here onely weake Against the charm of Beauties powerful glance. a1716South Serm. (1727) VI. xi. 385 It is the just Shame..of the Frailty of our Condition to consider..how weak we are to intend, and how much weaker to perform. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. V. 180 But though so furious among themselves, they [turkeys] are weak and cowardly against other animals, though far less powerful than they. 1779Cowper Human Frailty 1 Weak and irresolute is man. ― Olney Hymns xxix. 12 And Satan trembles, when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees. 1889W. Armstrong Wrestling (Badm. Libr.) 224 Outsiders often clamour loudly over these falls, and a weak judge is liable to be influenced.
absol.1667Milton P.L. vi. 909 But list'n not to his Temptations, warne Thy weaker. 1784Cowper Task ii. 343 He 'stablishes the strong, restores the weak. 1902W. Adamson Joseph Parker xxiii. 299 Faith leads to the Rock higher than self, on which the weak can rest in safety.
b. In the translations of the Bible from Tindale onward, used to render Gr. ἀσθενής, ἀσθενῶν, applied by St. Paul (esp. in Rom. xiv and 1 Cor. viii) to believers whose scruples, though unsound, should be treated with tenderness, lest they should be led by the example of the more enlightened into acts condemned by their conscience. Hence allusively in weaker brethren (often supposed to be a scriptural phrase), applied to the more timorous members of a party, who are in danger of being shocked by extreme statements of principle or policy; weak sister (colloq., orig. U.S.), an ineffectual or unreliable person (of either sex); a person of weak character; also transf.
In the Wycliffite and other early versions the rendering is ‘sick’ (Vulg. infirmus).
1526Tindale 1 Cor. viii. 11 But take hede that youre libertie cause nott the weake to faule. Ibid., And so thorow thy knowledge shall the weake brother perisshe for whom christ dyed. 1573T. C[artwright] Reply to Answ. Whitgift A iij b, That the setters forwarde of thys cause..giue occasion to the papists of slaundering the religion, and to the weake of offence. 1674B. Parry Duppa's Rules & Helps Devot. i. To Rdr., If Noise and Clamour might pass for Inspiration, the Apostles must go for Weak-Brethren, and mere Novices, compared with our New Lights. 1779[R. Richardson] Epist. Ded. to Bp. Lond. p. xvii, But recollecting the many Christian Injunctions in Favour of weak Brethren, you thus proceeded with your Charge. 1857Call (San Francisco) 3 May 1/1 G. W. Swerzy..is a ‘weak sister’ and a rather ‘bad egg’. 1866Geo. Eliot F. Holt I. iv. 95 ‘I lack grace to deal with these weak sisters,’ said the minister. 1882Besant All Sorts viii, I do as little as I can..on Sunday, because of the weaker brethren. The Sunday we [sc. Seventh Day Independents] keep as a holiday. 1949R. B. West Rocky Mt. Cities 311 The morning Rocky Mountain News..dawdled along as one of the weakest sisters in the Scripps-Howard string [of newspapers]. 1955E. Berckman Beckoning Dream (1956) xix. 135 Luanna was a softie.., a weak sister. She's the one you'd expect to go all to pieces, and she did. 1976‘J. Ross’ I know what it's like to Die xvii. 116 Birdsell was a weak sister... He was..known to be greedy and a physical coward.
c. of actions, attributes, etc.
1667Milton P.L. ix. 1186 And left to her self, if evil thence ensue, Shee first his weak indulgence will accuse. 1671Marvell Corr. Wks. (Grosart) II. 391 The Lord Lucas made a fervent bold speech against our prodigality in giving, and the weak looseness of the government. 1800Coleridge Piccolom. v. v. 78 Because he had a weak hour and forgot himself. 1819Shelley Cenci v. iii. 22 They must have told some weak and wicked lie To flatter their tormentors. 1878Lucy Diary Two Parl. (1885) I. 365 Disraeli, in a weak moment, offered him office again.
d. Of features, expression of countenance, etc.: Indicating weakness of character or intention.
1877W. S. Gilbert Foggerty's Fairy (1890) 30 The nurse smiled a weak smile, as who should say, ‘Master's joke is always so amusingly chosen’. 1882Besant All Sorts xxix, His forehead, when the original thatch was thick, must have been rather low and weak. 1897Kipling Capt. Cour. x. 227 ‘What have you two men been doing now?’ she said, with a weak little smile.
e. Deficient in power to control emotion; unduly swayed by grief, compassion, or affection. Of tears: Indicating weakness.
1768Sterne Sent. Journ., Snuff-Box, But I am as weak as a woman; and I beg the world not to smile, but pity me. 1794Mrs. Radcliffe Myst. Udolpho xlv, ‘They are weak tears, for they are useless ones,’ replied the count, drying them. 1848Dickens Dombey i, It's very weak and silly of me, I know, to be so trembly and shaky from head to foot. 1886‘Mrs. Alexander’ By Woman's Wit ii, You must have a weak spot in your heart for him, or you would never stand it.
3. a. Wanting in strength and skill as a combatant; relatively deficient in fighting power as shown by the result of the contest.
c1330R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 1814 Þer was turn ageynes turn; Þat waykest [of the wrestlers] was, byhoued spurn. c1471Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 276 Fayne was the waykyer away for to flee. 1481Caxton Reynard (Arb.) 102 Yet thought the foxe I haue good auauntage, the clawes of his for feet ben of, and his feet ben yet sore therof..he shal be somwhat the weyker. 1593Shakes. Rich. II, iii. ii. 62 Then if Angels fight, Weake men must fall. 1602― Ham. v. ii. 273 Your Grace hath laide the oddes a' th' weaker side.
b. Deficient as a fighting power in numbers, resources, etc. † Also const. of.
c1470Henry Wallace iv. 162 With waik power thai durst him nocht persew. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon i. 55 The folke of the duke were weke and almoste gon. For, of the two hundred that he hadde broughte, he hadde noo moo wyth hym but fourthi. 1574Southampton Court Leet Rec. (1905) i. 102 The watche of this towne ys neither good nor sufficient but very weak and vnmeet for the preservacon of thys towne. 1592Soliman & Pers. iii. i. 48 Their fleete is weake; Their horse, I deeme them fiftie thousand strong. 1593Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iv. v. 7 And often but attended with weake guard. 1611W. Adams Let. in Rundall Mem. Japon (Hakl. Soc.) 22 The king's ships were out seeking vs,..vnderstanding that wee were weake of men. 1614Ralegh Hist. World v. iii. §21. 578 He was indeede farre too weake for the Enemie in Horse, both in number and in goodnesse. 1670Dryden 1st Pt. Conq. Granada v. (1672) 53 We are not provided for a siege... The foe is strong without, we weak within. 1749Fielding Tom Jones v. xi, Having concluded, from seeing three men engaged, that two of them must be on one side, he..espoused the cause of the weaker party. 1784Cowper Task ii. 273 Sham'd as we have been..and in our own sea prov'd Too weak for those decisive blows that once Ensur'd us mast'ry there. 1871Freeman Norm. Conq. IV. xvii. 54 Each detachment of William's great army of occupation was weak and isolated. 1912Eng. Hist. Rev. Oct. 662 The French..were much weaker in large vessels.
†c. transf. weak of friends: having few influential friends. Obs.
1586T. Morgan in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1913) Jan. 56 note, Burghley..was weak of friends in the Privy Council.
d. Of a position: Poorly garrisoned.
1650J. Nicoll Diary (Bannatyne Club) 25 The Englische Generall, taking this very grevouslie, that such a waik hous sould hald out aganes him, [etc.].
e. Chess-playing. Of a man: Insufficiently protected against capture.
1860Löwenthal Morphy's Games Chess 57 The K. Kt's P. and K's P. are now both of them weak and the cause of much subsequent embarrassment. Ibid. 59 The Pawn..would have been left isolated and weak.
f. Wanting in skill as a performer in a game, sport, athletic exercise, contest, etc. Of play, a move, stroke: Exhibiting want of skill. So, weak place, weak spot (in a person's play).
1827in W. Denison Sk. Players (1846) 57 In other points England was weak: her fielding was not near so good, her bowling was not equal, [etc.]. 1860Löwenthal Morphy's Games Chess 62 On principle it is weak play, as it leaves a Pawn behind unsupported. Ibid. 98 A weak move. 1862Baily's Mag. Sept. 142 But the Surrey bowling was weak, and the men of The North scored 266 in their first innings. 1872Ibid. Aug. 168 Mr. Grace..gave..a chance at his one weak place, short leg. 1891Grace Cricket ix. 248 (Bowling.) And that brings me to my last point—seek for the weak spot in the batsman's defence. 1901Jessop in Badminton Mag. Apr. 371 We [Gloucestershire] shall be even a weaker side than usual in the first two months.
4. a. Of a person, the body, limbs: Deficient in bodily or muscular strength; esp. of a child or woman, inferior in respect of physical strength.
a1300Cursor M. 15033 Þe childer þat war waike To ga þat pres a-mang. Ibid. 23624 Þir [the good] sal be selcut strang and wight, þai [the wicked] sal be weck [MS. Gött. waike] wit-vten might. c1300Havelok 1012 Þider komen bothe stronge and wayke. a1340Hampole Psalter xii. 5, I..sett noght by þane stirynge, na mare þan a geaunte dos at þe puttynge of a waik man. c1386Chaucer Man of Law's T. 834 How may this wayke womman han this strengthe Hire to defende agayn this renegat. 1393Langl. P. Pl. C. vi. 23 Certes, ich seyde..Ich am to waik to worche with sykel oþer with sythe. 1470–85Malory Arthur iv. xx. 144, I am the yongest and moost weykest of yow bothe. 1596Shakes. Tam. Shr. v. ii. 165 Why are our bodies soft, and weake, and smooth, Vnapt to toyle? 1628Milton Vac. Exerc. 1 Hail native Language, that by sinews weak Didst move my first endeavouring tongue to speak. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. iv. v. 190 Divers continue all their life..left⁓handed, and have but weak and imperfect use of the right. 1697Dryden æneis xi. 1044 It shall be seen, weak Woman, what you can, When Foot to Foot, you combat with a Man. 1709Pope Ess. Crit. 197 That on weak wings, from far, pursues your flights. 1757Foote Author Prol., But as the sluggish animal was weak, They fear'd, if both should mount, his back would break. 1776A. Smith W.N. v. i. II. 315 He is a very strong man who by mere strength of body can force two weak ones to obey him. 1821Shelley Adonais xxvii, O gentle child..Why didst thou..with weak hands though mighty heart Dare the unpastured dragon in his den?
b. absol. (Cf. 10 b.)
a1300Cursor M. 832 Þe strang [bigan] þe weker for to sla. 1456Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 257 Oft tymes the starkare..puttis the waykar to the wer. For it is agayne nature that the waykare wan the starkare. a1500Coventry Corpus Chr. Pl. ii. 447 But the weykist gothe eyuer to the walle. 1535–[see wall n.1 13]. 1546J. Heywood Prov. ii. v. (1867) 56 And where the small with the great, can not agree, The weaker goeth to the potte, we all daie see. 1565Stapleton tr. Bede's Hist. Ch. Eng. 95 Thinking it a light matter to iniury, beguile or vse violence toward our wekers and inferiours. 1579Kendall Flowers Epigr., Trifles 5 The weake may stand the strong in sted: a dog may haue a day. 1768Ross Helenore ii. 85 The weak wins ay the warr.
c. the weaker vessel [cf. vessel n.1 3], in 1 Pet. iii. 7 said of the wife as compared with the husband; hence occas. used jocularly for ‘the wife’ or female partner. the weaker sex: see sex n. 1 c.
1526Tindale 1 Pet. iii. 7 Gevynge honoure vnto the wyfe as vnto the weaker vessel [Gr. ὡς ἀσθενεστέρῳ σκεύει]. 1588Shakes. L.L.L. i. i. 276 Iaquenetta (so is the weaker vessell called) which I apprehended with the aforesaid Swaine. 1668T. St. Serfe Tarugo's Wiles iii. 23 B[aker's] Wife. O! you are a fine man indeed! to leave the Government of the Oven now..to me that's the weaker vessel.
d. of physical effort.
1783Crabbe Village i. 197 Alternate masters now their slave command, Urge the weak efforts of his feeble hand.
5. a. Deficient in bodily vigour through age, sickness, privation, etc.; wanting in strength of the vital functions of the body; debilitated.
1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 767 Bot als tyte als a man waxes alde, Þan waxes his kynde wayke and calde. Ibid. 6157 Seke I was and in ful wayke state. 1399Langl. Rich. Redeles ii. 64 Ȝoure owen lymmes..so ffeble and wayke wexe in þe hammes. 1470–85Malory Arthur xxi. xi. 857 Thyder they came within two dayes for they were wayke & feble to goo. 1519Knaresb. Wills (Surtees) I. 8, I, John Gill, hole in mynde and wake in stomak, &c., to be buried in Pannall Chyrchyerd. 1524Reg. Privy Seal Scot. I. 501/1 Patrik..is now of grete aige, febill and waik in his persoun. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VIII 20 Thei hired shippes and putte the lorde Marques in one, which was so weake that he asked where he was. 1599Dallam in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.) 81, I was verrie wayke, not able to goo on foute one myle in a daye. 1651Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxix. 173 Till (if Nature be strong enough) it break at last the contumacy of the parts obstructed.., or (if Nature be too weak) the Patient dyeth. 1687Miége Gt. Fr. Dict. 1, Tendre, tender,..of a weak constitution. 1780Selwyn in Jesse S. & Contemp. (1844) IV. 363, I am at present in a weaker state of health from a present disorder than I ever was. 1840Dickens Old C. Shop lxiv, You're too weak to stand, indeed. 1889‘J. S. Winter’ Mrs. Bob xx, And, as is generally the case after hysteria, she is now very weak and prostrate. 1891Farrar Darkn. & Dawn lix, Pomponia sat by the bedside, holding the weak hand.
Similative phrases.1840[see rat n.1 2 c]. 1902C. N. & A. M. Williamson Lightning Conductor 327 Poor Lady B. was as weak as a rag, but..Pa kept her up on a raw egg in wine.
b. Feeble through exhaustion; faint. ? Now chiefly dial.
a1707Prior Dk. Ormond's Pict. 10 'Till weak with Wounds,..He faints. 1849Lever Con Cregan i, I am getting wake; just touch my lips again with the jug. 1880Antrim & Down Gloss., Weak turn, fainting fit. 1905Brit. Med. Jrnl. 1 July 23 He took a ‘weak turn’ and died the following day. 1918Pall Mall Gaz. 29 June 8/1 A wound over the eye, which caused the Welshman to go so weak that the referee stopped the contest.
6. a. Constitutionally feeble; not vigorous or robust in health.
1523–34Fitzherb. Husb. liii. 50 Of euery sort of shepe, it may fortune there be some, that like not and be weike. a1548Hall Chron., Edw. IV (1550) 36 The French kyng had no heire male, but one weake boy. 1602Shakes. Ham. iii. iv. 114 Conceit in weakest bodies, strongest workes. 1772Priestley Inst. Relig. (1782) I. 218 Laws to prevent the education of weak children. 1774Goldsm. Nat. Hist. II. 201 Fontenelle..was naturally of a very weak and delicate habit of body. 1780Bentham Introd. Morals & Legisl. vi. (1789) 43 A man may be weak all his life long, without experiencing any disease.
b. of a tree, plant, fruit, etc.
1596Shakes. Merch. V. iv. i. 115 The weakest kinde of fruite Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me. 1696W. W. New Help to Discourse (ed. 4) 224 Stake and bind up the weakest Plants, against the Winds. 1754Justice Scots Gard. Director 173 If your Artichokes are weak in the Spring, hill them up with rich Earth, and they will recover. 1768[J. Gibson] Fruit-Gardener 208 Early pruning is commonly recommended for weak trees. 1892Speaker 3 Sept. 290/1 The roses..will deteriorate year after year,..getting too weak to open leafy buds.
7. Of bodily organs or their functions: Deficient in functional strength (either naturally or by impairment).
The usual collocations are: weak eyes, weak sight; weak stomach, weak digestion; weak chest, weak lungs, weak heart; also (later) weak nerves, which has commonly the loose sense of ‘nervousness’, liability to be easily agitated.
c1480Henryson Swallow & other Birds 19 Hir ene ar waik, the sone scho may not se. 1597Shakes. Lover's Compl. 214 The deepe greene Emrald in whose fresh regard, Weake sights their sickly radience do amend. 1599― Hen. V, iii. ii. 56 Their Villany goes against my weake stomacke, and therefore I must cast it vp. 1655Fuller Ch. Hist. vi. 299 My weak and squeazie stomack will hardly digest the wing of a small rabbet. 1661Boyle Style of Script. (1675) 27 Batts..are only pleased with (what is alone proportioned to their weak sight) a Twilight. 1732Berkeley Alciphr. vi. §7, I have naturally weak eyes, and know that there are many things that I cannot see. 1760Sterne Tr. Shandy iii. xx. Author's Pref., With such weak nerves and spirits, and in the condition I am in at present. 1781Cowper Truth 98 Fancy shall apply To your weak sight her telescopic eye. 1822–9Good's Study Med. (ed. 3) I. 210 Shell-fishes do not always agree with weak stomachs. 1825J. Denniston Leg. Galloway 95 His amiable lady being a woman of weak nerves. 187.Cassell's Nat. Hist. I. 184 One of the large Monkeys in the Zoological Gardens had weak teeth, and he used to break open the nuts with a stone.
8. a. Of the mind or mental faculties: Deficient in power.
c1374Chaucer Anel. & Arc. 341 But me to rede out of this drede or guye Ne may my wit, so weyke is hit, not streche. c1400tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 80 But of wyn þat ys takyn abundanly..it makys wayk þe vertuz of þe sawle. c1480Henryson Swallow & other Birds 24 Mannis saule is febill and ouer small, Of vnderstanding waik and imperfite. 1562Winȝet Cert. Tractatis Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 27 It apperis to my waik iugement that to attempt sic proude misordour sall [etc.]. 1593Shakes. Lucr. 460 Such shadowes are the weake-brains forgeries. Ibid. 1825 Such childish humor from weake minds proceeds. 1597― 2 Hen. IV, ii. iv. 273 And such other Gamboll Faculties hee hath, that shew a weake Minde, and an able Body. 1642J. Taylor (Water P.) Walker the Ironmonger A 2, This hath past without controlement to..the raysing of strifes..in many people of weake capacities and judgements. 1671Milton P.R. ii. 221 For Beauty stands In the admiration only of weak minds Led captive. 1690Locke Hum. Und. ii. xxiii. §12. 140 We are furnished with Faculties (dull and weak as they are) to discover enough in the Creatures, to lead us to the Knowledge of the Creator. 1751Smollett Per. Pic. xcviii, Lord A―m..was a man of weak intellects. 1781Cowper Truth 366 Earth gives too little, giving only bread, To nourish pride, or turn the weakest head. 1798Ferriar Illustr. Sterne, etc. 8 Persons of weak understanding. 1857Buckle Civiliz. I. vii. 446 No where are the weakest parts of the human mind more clearly seen than in the history of legislation. 1865H. Kingsley Hillyars & Burtons lxi, Her suspicions..were only the product of a weak brain in a morbid state. 1908[Miss E. Fowler] Betw. Trent & Ancholme 317 A boy of weak intellect, a Natural.
b. Lacking force of intellect or strength of mind; easily deceived, credulous.
1423Jas. I Kingis Q. xiv, Thou (sely) ȝouth, of nature Indegest,..of wit wayke and vnstable. 1660Jer. Taylor Ductor iii. iv. 290 And that Priest were..a weak person who should chuse to wear gray, because there is no religion in the colour. 1665Glanvill Def. Van. Dogm. 52 If any are so weak to affirm nothing can be demonstrated, against which any thing is or can be objected [etc.]. 1736Butler Anal. ii. viii. Wks. 1874 I. 293 By these means weak men are often deceived by others. 1759Robertson Hist. Scot. iii. Wks. 1851 I. 217 Though Elizabeth was as much inferior to Mary in beauty and gracefulness of person as she excelled her in political abilities.., she was weak enough to compare herself with the Scottish queen. 1781Cowper Convers. 225 Credulous infancy, or age as weak, Are fittest auditors for such to seek. 1842Newman Eccl. Miracles (1843) 127 It can mean nothing else but that St. Gregory did no miracles, and that it is weak, nay, even heathenish, to believe he did. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. viii. II. 295 He..was everywhere received with outward signs of joy and respect, which he was weak enough to consider as proofs that the discontent..had subsided. 1885‘Mrs. Alexander’ Valerie's Fate ii, Do you think I should be so weak and stupid as to fall in love with a man..I know nothing about?
absol.1784Cowper Task ii. 566 The weak perhaps are mov'd, but are not taught, While prejudice in men of stronger minds Takes deeper root.
c. Feeble (in one's intellect, the brain, head, etc.).
a1661Fuller Worthies, Warwicksh. (1662) 119 Hence was it that the Earl was kept in so strict Restraint, which made him very weak in his Intellectuals. 1831Scott Cast. Dang. ii, Shrewd and wise men wax weak in the brain in these troublous times. 1853Dickens Bleak Ho. xxi, Until Mr. Smallweed's grandmother, now living, became weak in her intellect.
9. Inefficient, ill-qualified.
a. Of a person's abilities, productions, qualities, etc. (Often used in modesty or self-disparagement.)
c1386Chaucer Prioress' T. 29 My konnyng is so wayk, o blisful queene, For to declare thy grete worthynesse That [etc.]. c1450Holland Houlate 37 And I haue mekle matir in metir to gloss..And waike is my eloquence. c1590J. Stewart Poems (S.T.S.) II. 6 My vaeik and friuole versis. 1594Shakes. Rich. III, iii. i. 37 Card. My Lord of Buckingham, if my weak Oratorie Can from his Mother winne the Duke of Yorke, Anon expect him here.
b. Of a person: Wanting in ability, ill-qualified, unskilled or inefficient in, of or to do (something).
1423Jas. I Kingis Q. cxlix, And, sone, of wit or lore Sen thou art wayke and feble. 1564Becon Wks. I. Pref. ☛ C iv, When such as are yet weake in knowledge of Christ and of his holy Gospel heare yt [etc.]. Marg., Weakeynges. 1590Spenser F.Q. i. Introd. ii, Helpe then, O holy Virgin chiefe of nine, Thy weaker Nouice to performe thy will. 1653W. Ramesey Astrol. Restored 28 One of the silliest and weakest Students in Astrologie was chosen out of all the other to confute the Doctor. 1780Cowper Progr. Err. 15 Weak to perform, though mighty to pretend. 1781― Charity 633 But if, unhappily deceiv'd, I dream, And prove too weak for so divine a theme. 1818Keats Endym. iii. 938 O 'tis a very sin For one so weak to venture his poor verse In such a place as this. 1831Sir J. Sinclair Corr. II. 257 Some weak politicians would startle at the expense it might occasion. 1885Leeds Mercury 24 June 4/4 The new Government will be so lamentably weak in debating power.
transf.1821Shelley Adonais lii, Rome's azure sky, Flowers, ruins, statues, music, words, are weak The glory they transfuse with fitting truth to speak.
c. Of literary work or composition: Showing little evidence of ability.
1713Steele Englishm. No. 20. 132 It is the weakest Part of a very weak Book. 1733Pope Hor. Sat. ii. i. 5 The lines are weak, another's pleas'd to say.
10. a. Wanting in power or authority over others.
1423Jas. I Kingis Q. cxlviii, And quhare a persone has tofore knawing Off It that is to fallen purposely, Lo, fortune is bot wayke in suich a thing. 1538Starkey England i. iii. 84 Our cuntrey ys now weke, and no thyng so strong as hyt hath byn in old tyme. 1550Crowley Way to Wealth 265 If the gentlemen and rulars of thy countreie shoulde be to weake for the, he would bring in strainge nations to subdue the. 1651Hobbes Leviath. ii. xxx. 182 It is a weak Soveraign, that has weak Subjects; and a weak People, whose Soveraign wanteth Power to rule them at his will. 1761Goldsm. Misc. Wks. (1837) I. 472 England, therefore, grew weaker, or, what amounts to the same thing, saw her neighbours grow stronger. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. xx. IV. 437 Sometimes..no set of men who can be brought together possesses the full confidence and steady support of a majority of the House of Commons. When this is the case, there must be a weak Ministry.
b. absol. (Cf. 4 b.)
1601Shakes. Jul. C. i. iii. 91 Therein, yee Gods, you make the weake most strong; Therein, yee Gods, you Tyrants doe defeat. 1697[see strong a. 5 b]. 1733Pope Ess. Man iii. 49 Grant that the pow'rful still the weak controul. 1844Disraeli Coningsby iv. iv, The idea of restraining the powerful by the weak is an absurdity.
c. of power, strength, authority, etc.
c1386Chaucer Pars. T. ⁋311 And moore-ouer contricion destroyeth the prison of helle and maketh wayk and fieble alle the strengthes of the deueles. 1533Bellenden Livy (S.T.S.) II. 38 The strenth of every office & power begynnys to be febil and waik in þe lattir parte of þe ȝere. 1570Satir. Poems Reform. xviii. 47 Thay thocht his deith wald mak thy power waik. 1593Shakes. Rich. II, ii. iii. 154, I cannot mend it, I must needes confesse, Because my power is weake. a1656[see strong a. 5 d].
11. a. Card-playing. Of a game, hand, suit: Not of a commanding nature or value. Of a player: Ill-provided with commanding cards (in a specified suit).
1680Cotton Gamester (ed. 2) 75 [L'Ombre] If the Players have but a weak Game, they are to imitate cunning Beast-players in dividing the Tricks. 1742Hoyle Whist 28 Your Adversary on your Right-hand begins with playing the Ace of your weak Suit. 1746Ibid. (ed. 6) 62 When ought you to make Tricks early? Ans. When you are weak in Trumps. 1864[see strong a. 24].
b. Money-market. Of money or stock: Insufficient to meet a demand or to carry on operations. Similarly of a holder of stock.
1875Economist 23 Jan. 95/1 The Bank reserve will continue too weak for the probable demands upon it in the spring. Ibid. 6 Mar. 289/2 Several of the weaker holders have been forced to dispose of their stocks at a considerable reduction on former rates.
12. Not strong or energetic in action; lacking in force or power.
a. of natural agents, etc.
c1400tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. 68 For þat stomake ys lykned to a wayk & feble feer, þat vnnethes may to⁓brenne rosels and smal chippys. 1585Higins Junius' Nomencl. 226/1 Siparum,..a saile wherewith the course or voyage of a ship is holpen, when the wind is weake and faileth. 1597Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, iv. v. 100 For my Cloud of Dignitie Is held from falling, with so weake a winde, That it will quickly drop. 1604E. G[rimstone] tr. Acosta's Hist. Indies ii. vii. 97 If the sunnebeames be weake, they draw vp no fogge from the rivers. a1626[see strong a. 13 c]. 1660F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 45 'Tis to be noted that the tides are weakest at the full of the Moon. 1815J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 175 A combination of weak magnets..will communicate magnetism in proportion to their accumulated power. 1899Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 515 The above list gives them [i.e. external astringents] in order of their efficacy—from the weakest to the strongest. 1907J. A. Hodges Elem. Photogr. (ed. 6) 112 Weak sunlight will be found to give the best lighting.
†b. Of food: Not highly nourishing. Obs.
1382Pol. Poems (Rolls) I. 264 Men may se by thair contynaunce..that thair sustynaunce Simple is and wayke. 1615Sandys Trav. 118 Of these [Moors] it is strange to see such a number of broken persons: so being by reason of their strong labour and weake foode.
c. Of the voice: Feeble in enunciation.
a1300Cursor M. 24314 Þir martirs tuin.., quen þai herd crists voice Sa waik þat vnethes most þai here, Come neuer care þair hert sa nere. a1568R. Ascham Scholem. i. (Arb.) 39 A voice, not softe, weake, piping, womannishe, but audible, stronge, and manlike. 1697Dryden æneis vi. 666 They rais'd a feeble Cry, with trembling Notes: But the weak Voice deceiv'd their gasping Throats. 1810Crabbe Borough xxii. 324 And ‘Come,’ they said, with weak, sad voices, ‘come.’ 1873March. Dufferin Canad. Jrnl. (1891) 81 The voices of the singers were thin and weak. 1878Hardy Ret. Native v. v, ‘Are you not ashamed of me’..she asked in a weak whisper.
d. Of the pulse: Having little force.
1700Dryden Pal. & Arc. i. 154 Weak was the Pulse, and hardly heav'd the Heart. 1707Floyer Physic. Pulse-Watch 403 A weak Pulse, languid, profund, subtile, slow, indicates a cold Disease. 1876[see strong a. 13 b].
e. Of faith, conviction, affection, passions: Wanting in strength, not intense.
1530Tindale Answ. More Wks. (1573) 267 The fayth that dependeth of an other mans mouth is weake. c1600Shakes. Sonn. cii. 1 My loue is strengthned, though more weake in seeming. 1732Pope Ess. Man ii. 130 Hence diff'rent Passions more or less inflame, As strong or weak, the organs of the frame. 1768Cowper Olney Hymns xviii. 22 Lord, it is my chief complaint That my love is weak and faint.
f. (a) Of words or expressions: Wanting in force, inadequate; implying relatively little fullness of meaning.
1771Junius Lett. lxiv. (1772) II. 327 If these terms are weak, or ambiguous, in what language can Junius express himself? 1861Paley æschylus (ed. 2) Choeph. 913 note, ‘To waft fate’ is, however, a much weaker term than the other.
(b) Math. Of a mathematical entity or concept: implying less than others of its kind; defined by fewer conditions.
1950W. Feller Introd. Probability Theory I. viii. 157 The strong law of large numbers was first formulated by Cantelli (1917)... Like the weak law, it is only a very special case of a general theorem on random variables. 1964A. P. & W. Robertson Topological Vector Spaces p. vii, It often clarifies results in the theory of normed spaces, especially those concerned with the weak topology, to regard them as particular cases of more general results about topological vector spaces. 1971G. Higman in Powell & Higman Finite Simple Groups vi. 211 We then define En to be the weakest equivalence relation on Ωn satisfying the following three conditions. 1979Proc. London Math. Soc. XXXVIII. 439 Let L be the collection of minimal edge-sets of paths which join s to s′ or t to t′. Then L has the weak MFMC property (but..in general, not the strong).
g. Of a dose of medicine: Less in quantity (and hence in power) than the normal dose.
1899Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 588 Weak doses of thymol, tar, or subacetate of lead.
†h. Of slumber: Light, not deep or heavy. Obs.
1663Patrick Parab. Pilgr. x. (1687) 56 A weak slumber..chaining up his reason, left only his imagination at liberty to rove about.
i. Of a chance: Slight, slender, small in degree.
1853Dickens Bleak Ho. x, Shall I call him down? But it's a weak chance if he'd come, sir!
j. Of an attack of disease: Not severe or acute.
1899Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 586 It [i.e. ‘red gum’] is more probably urticarial or a weak form of prurigo.
k. Physics. Applied to one of the four known kinds of force between particles, which is effective only at distances less than about 10—15 cm., is very much weaker than the electromagnetic and the strong interactions, and conserves neither strangeness, parity, nor isospin.
[1953M. Gell-Mann in Physical Rev. XCII. 833/2 Let us suppose that both ‘ordinary particles’ (nucleons and pions) and ‘new unstable particles’..have interactions of three kinds:..(iii) Other charge-dependent interactions, which we take to be very weak.] 1954[see strong a. 10 e]. 1968M. S. Livingston Particle Physics vii. 139 Parity conservation is violated in this weak interaction. 1972G. L. Wick Elementary Particles iii. 43 Typical weak interactions are nuclear beta decay and the slow decays of elementary particles. 1976Sci. Amer. Jan. 45/1 The weak force affects every particle but one, the exception being the photon. 1982Ann. Reg. 1981 385 Theorists had already inferred that electromagnetism and the weak force were two extremes of the same thing.
13. a. Wanting in effectiveness.
1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, v. iii. 27 My ancient Incantations are too weake. 1600― Sonn. xxxiv. 11 Th' offenders sorrow lends but weake reliefe To him that beares the strong offenses crosse. 1667Milton P.L. xii. 291 When they see Law can discover sin, but not remove, Save by those shadowie expiations weak, The bloud of Bulls and Goats. a1718Prior Engraven on Column 14 Yet Spires and Towers in Dust shall lye, The weak Efforts of Human Pains. 1721Pope Epitaph Hon. S. Harcourt, How vain is Reason, Eloquence how weak! If Pope must tell what Harcourt cannot speak. 1741C'tess Pomfret in C'tess Hartford's Corr. (1805) III. 52 Knowing with what goodness you receive my weak endeavours to amuse you. 1822Shelley Chas. I, ii. 292 Strafford. Be these the expedients until time and wisdom Shall frame a settled state of government. Laud. And weak expedients they.
b. Of evidence, argument, etc.: Not convincing. Of a case, title, etc.: Not having strong evidence.
1538Starkey England i. ii. 27 That where as my resonys schal appere to you sklender and weke, wyth your dylygence you may them supply. 1542Elyot Dict., Caussa inferior, the lesse right, or weker title. 1560J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 18 b, Which is a light and verye weake reason. 1593Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, i. i. 134 Henry. I know not what to say, my Titles weake. 1594Hooker Eccl. Pol. ii. v. §5, I wonder that a cause so weak and feeble hath bene so much persisted in. c1600Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 1112 Ȝour warrand is but waik. 1630Milton On Shakespear 6 Dear son of memory, great heir of Fame, What need'st thou such weak witnes of thy name? 1662Stillingfl. Orig. Sacræ iii. i. §8 Hee admits them upon far weaker grounds than wee do attribute them to God. 1686Tillotson Serm. at White-Hall, 1 Cor. iii. 15, 18 [An argument] so intolerably weak and sophistical that any considerate man ought to be asham'd to be catch'd by it. 1707Atterbury Vind. Doctr. Funeral Serm. Bennet 4 Pretending to shew, how weak and improper the Proofs are, which their Asserters employ in the defence of them. 1781Cowper Convers. 722 Will they believe, though credulous enough To swallow much upon much weaker proof. 1863Twistleton in W. Smith's Dict. Bible III. s.v. Zidon, Justin, however, is such a weak authority for any disputed historical fact. 1871Freeman Norm. Conq. IV. xviii. 188 But the direct evidence for a siege of Oxford is so weak that the tale cannot be relied on. 1904H. Belloc Old Road 119 The first evidence afforded us was weak enough. We saw [etc.].
†14. Of a thing: Of little account or worth, inconsiderable. Obs.
1590Shakes. Mids. N. v. i. 434 And this weake and idle theame, No more yeelding but a dreame, Gentles, doe not reprehend. 1604― Oth. iii. iii. 443 O that the Slaue had forty thousand liues; One is too poore, too weake for my reuenge. 1822Shelley Chas. I, ii. 207 Strafford. How weak, how short, is life to pay— King. Peace, peace. Thou ow'st me nothing yet.
15. a. Having less than the full or proper amount of a specific ingredient. Of an infusion: Over-diluted.
1597Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, ii. ii. 10 Doth it not shew vildely in me, to desire small Beere? Poin. Why, a Prince should not be so loosely studied, as to remember so weake a Composition. 1676J. Smith Art of Painting vii. 38 You must give it such a quantity of your fat Oyl, that it may not be so weak as to run when you have laid it on, nor so stiff, that it may not work well. 1755Johnson, Weak... 6. Not much impregnated with any ingredient: as a weak tincture, weak beer. 1769J. Skeat Art of Cookery Expl. Terms, Cooley; is a white broth or weak gravy. 1791W. Hamilton Berthollet's Dyeing I. 5 By means of a very weak acid. 1815J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 837 To a weak solution of galls, add a few drops of weak solution of sulphate of iron. 1840Dickens Old C. Shop lxiv, A great basin of weak tea. 1891‘J. S. Winter’ Lumley xv, A little brandy and water, not too weak.
b. spec. of iron.
1841Greener Sci. Gunnery 120 An iron which is technically termed ‘Weak,’ can never be made a strong bodied iron. 1868Joynson Metals 58 What is called ‘weak’ pig-iron, which contains a high percentage of phosphorus and sulphur.
c. Of corn: ? Having a small proportion of grain to the chaff.
1842J. Aiton Domest. Econ. (1857) 205 Let the cows get..a little clover hay, mixed with weak oats, the refuse of what is sent to the mill. Ibid. 252 The horse gets about the fourth part of a peck of oats, with some weak and refuse corn for supper daily.
d. Of flour: Made from soft wheat, so that it contains relatively less gluten and more starch, rises less with yeast, and is less cohesive. Of wheat: Soft.
1889J. Blandy Bakers' Guide (ed. 2) 65 It is very important that young bakers should know how to buy, and blend flour for bread-making; and we..direct them to use a hard dry flour in the sponge, with an eighth part of soft weak flour..to feed the yeast. 1914Times 8 June 16/5 Some flours, among which that from English wheat may be taken as a familiar example, produce small flat close-textured and ‘runny’ loaves. These are called weak flours. 1924J. Stewart Bread & Bread Baking ii. 15 Weak flours are..important in pastry baking and confectionery. 1951Good Housek. Home Encycl. 466/2 ‘Soft’ or ‘weak’ wheats contain less gluten and more starch. 1962Listener 22 Mar. 510/1 As a general rule, ‘strong’ flour contains more nitrogen than ‘weak’ flour.
e. Of the mixture in an internal-combustion engine: = lean a. 4 f.
1918V. W. Pagé Aviation Engines iii. 114 A rich mixture ignites much quicker than a weak mixture. 1948‘N. Shute’ No Highway ix. 217 Mr. Honey's estimate of the time to tailplane failure, under normal weak mixture cruising conditions, was 1,440 hours. 1981R. Bacon Two-Strike Tuning ix. 63 All two-stroke engines are sensitive to mixture strength. Too rich and the power and acceleration suffer, while if too weak the result can be a seized or holed piston.
16. a. Wanting in material strength, unsound, insecure.
c1400Contin. Brut ccxxxii. 315 Oþer strong werkes..were so yshake þerewith, þat þey..shol be euermore, the febelere & weyker while þey stonde. 1535–6in Trans. Shropsh. Archæol. Soc. (1880) III. 256 This yeare was a maltman slayne in grope lone in Shrewsburie with the fall of a wecke chymney in an old howse there. 1545R. Ascham Toxoph. ii. (Arb.) 121 Freates begynne many tymes in a pin, for there the good woode is corrupted, that it muste nedes be weke, and bycause it is weake, therfore it freates. 1612R. Churton Olde Thrift newly revived 69 Where that many fences bee weake..[to] bee strengthened. 1622J. Taylor (Water P.) Shilling B 5, And by misfortune if the Caske be weake, Three or foure Gallons in the ground may leake. 1855Tennyson Brook 84 The gate, Half-parted from a weak and scolding hinge, Stuck. 1856J. C. Morton Cycl. Agric. I. 840/1 This causes inequality of growth, weak and deficient places in the hedge.
b. fig. and in fig. context. Freq. in weak link: the weakest or least dependable of a number of interdependent items; also in Proverb. Cf. weak point (a), sense 16 e.
1581N. Burne Disput. xxv. 111 b, Thairfoir all that quhilk ye grounde vpone this vaik fundament, man fall altogidder. 1595Shakes. John v. vii. 78 Returne with me againe To push destruction, and perpetuall shame Out of the weake doore of our fainting Land. 1692Prior Ode Imit. Hor. vii, Your mould'ring Monuments in vain ye raise On the weak Basis of the Tyrant's Praise. 1868Cornh. Mag. XVII. 295 A chain is no stronger than its weakest link. 1885E. P. Hood World of Proverb 131 The strength of the chain is in the weakest link. 1926H. Crane Let. 12 Aug. (1965) 272 Mrs. Simpson was enormously pleased at your postcard; and I with your praise of the Dedication. You generally do pick the weakest link; that verse has bothered me. 1942I. S. Shriber Body for Bill (1947) xiv. 183 ‘Stansfield was a pretty weak individual... He was threatening to give the whole thing away.’.. ‘A chain is no stronger than its weakest link, remember?’ 1965M. Frayn Tin Men xv. 88 An unreliable man, Haugh, a weak link in the team. 1975R. Lewis Double Take iv. 138 All right, he lifted the heart drug, but we..picked out the weak link in Ward too. 1984Bookseller 8 Sept. 1049/2, I sometimes seek comfort in the old adage that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
c. Of a fortified place: Not possessed of sound defence (esp. in some part or on a particular side). Also † weak-breach (in quot. fig.).
c1400Mandeville (Roxb.) x. 40 Ynentes þe kirk of þe Sepulchre es þe citee maste wayke, for þe grete playne þat es betwene þe citee and þe kirke. a1586Sidney Arcadia iii. xiii. §7 The glittering of the armour, and sounding of the trumpets giving such an assault to the weake-breache of his false senses. 1604Jas. I Counterbl. Tobacco (Arb.) 107 He makes his breach and entrie, at some..parts thereof, which hee hath tried and found to bee weakest and least able to resist. 1652H. Cogan tr. Scudery's Ibrahim Pref., in Villiers' Rehearsal (Arb.) 30 It is of works of this nature, as of a place of war, where notwithstanding all the care the Engineer hath brought to fortifie it, there is alwayes some weak part found. 1673Temple Observ. Netherl. viii. 251 Those Out-works which are either weak of themselves, or not well defensible for want of men. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 597 Bristol had fortifications which, on the north of the Avon..were weak.
quasi-adv.1720Ozell tr. Vertot's Rom. Rep. II. xiv. 418 Hirtius found out a Place weaker guarded than the rest, which he carried Sword in hand.
d. weak side [cf. F. côté faible]. (a) Of a fortified place: A side defectively fortified or unsound in its defences. (b) fig.
(a)1667Dryden Secret Love 1st Prol. iv, Plays are like Towns, which, howe're fortifi'd By Engineers, have still some weaker side, By the o'reseen Defendant unespy'd.
(b)1671Temple Surv. Const. Empire, Sueden etc., Miscell. (1680) 13 Their Application..to trade, has much increast their Shipping and Seamen (which they found to be their weak-side in their last attempts). 1692L'Estrange Fables I. cccxxx. 288 This Dog here would perhaps have Fought for his Master in any Other Case..: But the Love of Mutton was his Weak side. 1713Addison Cato i. i, To quell the tyrant Love, and guard thy heart On this weak side, where most our nature fails. 1730T. Boston Mem. vii. (1899) 140 Satan soon after got in upon my weak side. 1780Mirror No. 92 My friend..is a little inclined to take things on their weak side. 1809Malkin Gil Blas xi. v. ⁋1 He spared you the trouble of finding out the weak side of that prelate and his principal officers, by discovering their different characters to you.
e. weak point. (a) Of a thing: The point or feature where it is defective or unsound. (b) (A person's) weak point, a failing or weakness (moral or intellectual).
(a)1865Mill Auguste Comte 126 M. Littré..is a disciple only of the Cours de Philosophie Positive, and can see the weak points even in that. 1868S. Neil Publ. Meetings 81 In it [sc. the peroration] the strong points should be enforced, and the weak should be slipped airily over. 1869H. F. Tozer Highl. Turkey II. 21 A magnificent view indeed it was... The weak point in it was that the country on one side was..excluded from view. 1875[see wear v. 15]. 1883A. Sidgwick Fallacies 218 To use it as a rough guide in finding the weak point of an argument. 1908Animal Management (War Office) 180 Every weak point in the fit of a saddle in a squadron should be known. 1920Times Lit. Suppl. 29 Apr. 263/3 The weak point of modern capitalism is the opportunity it gives of bad spending.
(b)1827Hare Guesses I. 183 Do you want to find out a person's weak points? Observe the failings he has the quickest eye for in others. 1849C. Brontë Shirley xxv, Other people betrayed consciousness of, and annoyance at her weak points.
17. Wanting in solidity or firmness; slight; of a texture easily broken, fragile, frail.
1581T. Norton [1582] in Nicolas Sir C. Hatton (1847) 235, I desire not to undertake any such work, but do shun it as storms in a broad sea for a weak vessel. 1601Shakes. Jul. C. i. iii. 108 Those that with haste will make a mightie fire, Begin it with weake Strawes. 1680J. Collins Plea Irish Cattell, etc. 26 The Hurds,..or Tow, of Flax and Hemp, will serve to make a weaker, or a worser sort of Linnen. 1705tr. Bosman's Guinea 260 Their Eggs are..covered..with a thick Flesh which is pliable and weak. 1756R. Rogers Jrnls. (1769) 11 We then attempted to cross the lake, but found the ice too weak. 1817Shelley To William Shelley 2 The billows on the beach are leaping around it, The bark is weak and frail. 1897Pr. Ranjitsinhji Jubilee Bk. Cricket iv. 148 A weak, springy [bat] handle is a mistake. A handle should bend like the butt-end of a good fly-rod and not like an aspen stick.
fig.1592Shakes. Ven. & Ad. Ded., I know not..how the worlde will censure mee for choosing so strong a proppe to support so weake a burthen. 1781Cowper Expost. 629 What web too weak to catch a modern brain? 1784― Tiroc. 169 How weak the barrier of mere nature proves, Oppos'd against the pleasures nature loves!
18. Not strongly marked.
a. Of colours, markings: Not vivid.
1585Higins Junius' Nomencl. 177/2 Buxeus,..a weake or vnperfect yellow, like box. 1591Shakes. Two Gent. iii. ii. 6 This weake impresse of Loue, is as a figure Trenched in ice, which with an houres heate Dissolues to water, and doth loose his forme. 1831Brewster Optics x. 87 In the spectrum of Pollux there were many weak but fixed lines. 1876Abney Instr. Photogr. (ed. 3) 100 For a negative of the weak type the bromide may be omitted. 1878― Treat. Photogr. xii. 85 Defects in negatives... A weak image may be due—1, to an unsuitable collodion [etc.].
b. Mining and Geol. (See quot. 1884.)
1833T. Sopwith Mining Distr. Alston Moor 107 Old Carr's Cross Vein, in Alston Moor, in mining language, is weakest at the north end. 1884J. A. Phillips Ore Deposits 185 In the Alston-Moor district a vein is said to be weak when the strata on either side are but slightly displaced.
c. Of an animal's scent: Faint.
1854Surtees Handley Cr. xxxvii. (1901) II. 6 Pigg lifted his 'ounds, the scent being weak from the water.
19. Comm. Of market prices, the market: Having a downward tendency, not firm. Hence of commodities with regard to their prices.
1856in Tooke & Newmarch Hist. Prices (1857) V. 657 In January ('56) the market opened with much firmness at 75s...; subsequently the tone became weaker. 1882Daily News 23 Aug. 2/7 Prices for wheat, however, were decidedly weaker. 1900Ibid. 17 Sept. 2/5 Hematite continues to be weak, as was the case at Tuesday's market. 1903S. S. Pratt Work of Wall St. 100 If there are more offers than bids the market is weak and the price declines.
20. Phonetics and Prosody. Of a sound: Pronounced with less force than the adjacent sound or sounds. Of accent, stress: Having relatively little force. Of a syllable, the ending of a verse: Unstressed or without metrical ictus. Of the caesura: Falling after a short syllable. Of a variant pronunciation: usual in contexts where the word is unstressed.
weak ending, the occurrence of an unstressed or proclitic monosyllable (a preposition or conjunction) in the normally stressed place at the end of an iambic line. Sometimes distinguished from light ending (e.g. a relative pronoun or auxiliary verb), on which the voice can dwell slightly.
a1637B. Jonson Engl. Gram. iv. (1640) 43 Before e. and i. it [C] hath a weake sound, and hisseth like s. 1662Howell New Engl. Gram. 28 This letter n..hath three degrees of sounds, full in the beginning, weak in the middle, and flat at the end of a word. 1765J. Elphinston Princ. Engl. Lang. II. 329 Combinations of two syllables. Iamb, a short and a long, or a weak and a strong. 1774[W. Mitford] Ess. Harmony Lang. 100 Besides these, feet often occur with the strong accent on both syllables; and frequently one foot, sometimes two in a verse, have the weaker accent only. 1824T. Martin Philol. Eng. Gram. 117 When two consonants fall together and will not combine, the weaker is sometimes silent. 1838E. Guest Engl. Rhythms I. 86 The primary accent of the adjective ought always, when not emphatic, to be weaker than that of the substantive. 1852Proc. Philol. Soc. V. 153 A foot catalectic on the weak syllable. 1857C. Bathurst Shaks. Versif. 38 There are several instances of the weak endings. 1871J. Hadley Ess. (1873) 273 The effect of a weak r on the preceding short vowel. 1874B. H. Kennedy Publ. Sch. Lat. Gram. §260 (ed. 2) 529 A weak trochaic caesura, after the trochee or second syllable of the dactyl. 1874J. K. Ingram in Trans. New Shaks. Soc. ii. 447 The former may with convenience be called ‘light endings’, whilst to the latter may be appropriated the name (hitherto vaguely given to both groups jointly) of ‘weak endings’. 1886J. B. Mayor Engl. Metre 103 Some have maintained that the basis of the metre is a double trochee with a weaker stress on the first syllable and stronger on the third. 1890H. Sweet Primer Spoken Eng. 13 Words that occur very frequently with weak stress often develope a weak form by the side of the original strong one. 1917D. Jones Eng. Pronouncing Dict. p. xix, Circumstances exist in which strong forms occur unstressed, but in no case does a weak form occur stressed. 1982J. C. Wells Accents of Eng. I. iii. 227 In many accents the pronoun you has a weak form /jə/ (conventionally spellable ya in the United States, but yer in non-rhotic-oriented England).
21. Philol. In various applications, opposed to strong (see strong a. 22).
a. Of Teut. nouns and adjs.: Belonging to any of the declensions in which the stem in OTeut. ended in -n.
b. Of Teut. verbs: Forming the preterite by the addition of a suffix.
c. In Greek grammar, sometimes applied to the sigmatic or ‘first’ aorist, in contradistinction to the ‘second’ or ‘strong’ aorist.
d. In Sanskrit grammar, the designation of the reduced stems of nouns, and of the cases in which the reduced stem occurs.
e. In Hebrew and Syriac grammar applied to certain consonants (otherwise called ‘feeble’) and to verbs which have one or more of these in the root.
f. The designation of the ablaut-grade which results from absence of stress.
a.1841[see strong a. 22 a]. 1885J. Byrne Struct. Lang. II. 194 There is also in all the Teutonic languages a weak declension, as Grimm has called it, which has arisen from the insertion of n or an between the stem and the element of case or number.
b.1833Philol. Museum II. 385 No weak verb ever in process of time became strong, while strong verbs do become weak. 1841Latham Eng. Lang. xviii. 198 Weak Tenses. The Præterite Tense of the Weak Verbs is formed by the addition of d or t... The Verbs of the Weak Conjugation fall into Three Classes. 1845Proc. Philol. Soc. II. 50 In the weak perfects of the Teutonic languages..no such difficulty presents itself. 1886T. L. Kington-Oliphant New Engl. I. 228 There is a curious confusion of the Strong and Weak verb in metal moltynnyd.
c.1875E. Abbott Curtius' Elucid. Student's Grk. Gram. 104 The sibilant common to both naturally leads from the future to the weak aorist. 1876T. L. Papillon Man. Comp. Philol. 196 The Weak or Compound Aorist (1 aor.).
d.1863Benfey Sansk. Gram. §220. 176 There are some nouns which have a strong and a weak form. Ibid. §238. 198 In the Veda the distinction between the strong and weak cases is less regularly observed than in the later Sanskrit.
e.1874A. B. Davidson Hebr. Gram. 69 A weak verb is a verb which has one or more of its three stem letters a weak letter. The weak letters are the gutturals, the quiescents, and nun. 1904J. A. Crichton Nöldeke's Syriac Gram. 42 Weak roots vary a good deal in their weak letters. Ibid. 106 A few verbs primae n also take e, as well as a few weak verbs.
f.1888Sweet Hist. Engl. Sounds §249 The result was a variety of vowel-series, each with the three stages, strong, medium, and weak. 1891A. L. Mayhew O.E. Phonol. §645 Weak (i.e. Zero) Grades. 1908Wright O.E. Gram. §472 In the athematic verbs the personal endings were added to the bare root, which had the strong grade form of ablaut in the singular, but the weak grade in the dual and plural.
22. Similative phrases in which weak may have any of various meanings. (See also sense 5 a.)
1535Bible (Coverdale) Ezek. vii. 17 All knees shalbe weake as the water [1611 (A.V.) weake as water]. 1874Trollope Phineas Redux II. xxx. 244 She would not sin... Having so resolved, she became weak as water. 1926J. Buchan Dancing Floor i. ii. 54 We were as weak as kittens, but..extraordinarily happy. 1980A. Price Hour of Donkey ix. 123 He must have been as weak as a kitten, with all the blood he'd lost. 1983J. Wainwright Their Evil Ways v. 154, I think you're mad... Mad and as weak as water.
23. Comb.a. In parasynthetic adjs., as weak-backed, weak-brained, weak-chined, weak-fleshed, weak-limned, weak-principled, weak-skinned, weak-stressed, etc. See also weak-handed, -headed, -hearted, -kneed, -minded, -sighted.
1535Coverdale Isa. xxviii. 7 They are..*weake braned thorow stronge drynke. 1841Dickens Barn. Rudge xxxiv, It is a foolish fancy on the part of this weak-brained man.
a1663Killigrew Parson's Wedd. i. i. (1664) 75 The *weak-chin'd slave hir'd me once to say, I was with Child by him.
1657J. Sergeant Schism Dispach't 94 This *weak-conscienc'd man.
1645Waller To Mistris Braughton 8 So in those Nations which the Sun adore Some modest Persian, or some *weak-ey'd Moore, No higher dares advance his dazled sight. 1746Collins Ode to Evening iii, Save where the weak-eyed bat With short shrill shriek flits by on leathern wing. 1822Shelley Chas. I, ii. 127 And banish weak-eyed Mercy to the weak.
1967*Weak-fleshed [see raw-jawed adj. s.v. raw a. 9].
1611Shakes. Wint. T. ii. iii. 119 Not able to produce more accusation Then your owne *weake-hindg'd Fancy.
1853Dickens Bleak Ho. liii, You're not one of the *weak-legged ones.
1852Thackeray Esmond i. xii, My Lord Firebrace was but a feeble-minded and *weak-limbed young nobleman.
a1918W. Owen Poems (1963) 90 The *weak-limned hour when sick men's sighs are drained.
1802‘An English Traveller’ Sk. Paris II. lx. 293 These *weak-nerved females, who would have fainted at the sight of a spider mangling a fly.
1835Dickens Sk. Boz, Parlour Orator, *Weak-pated dolts they are.
1913D. H. Lawrence Sons & Lovers ix. 246 It was the nose and eyes of her own mother's people—good-looking, *weak-principled folk.
1933Dylan Thomas Lett. (1966) 72 And unless you want to regard the man [sc. D. H. Lawrence] as a vain, *weak⁓skinned, egocentric, domineering little charlatan, don't borrow the book.
1796W. H. Marshall W. Eng. II. 207 A *weaksoiled arable District.
1508Fisher Wks. (1876) 253 Those the whiche be basshefull and *weyke spyryted.
1898H. Sweet New Eng. Gram. II. 32 If three strong-stressed words come together—especially in immediate succession, but also with intervening *weak-stressed words—the stress of the middle word is often reduced. 1966English Studies XLVII. 83 In languages that use interrogatives as indefinites, such as Dutch, the latter are always weak-stressed.
1896Allbutt's Syst. Med. I. 229 A *weak-walled heart..is much more easily influenced by digitalis than a healthy one.
1885Graphic 21 Feb. 174/2 *Weak-willed folk. 1909G. M. Trevelyan Garibaldi & Thousand iv. 73 The doubtful and weak-willed guide of Europe's destiny.
1649G. Daniel Trinarch., Hen. IV, ccxxiv, Soe cutting through a Swarme Of Gnatts, an Eagle scoureing after Prey, Beats downe the *weak-wing'd vermin in her way.
1865Swinburne Chastelard iv. i. 159 These men be *weaker-witted than mere fools When they fall mad once.
b. as adv. with pa. pples., weak-built, weak-made; with pres. pples., weak-growing, weak-shivering.
1593Shakes. Lucr. 130 Yet euer to obtaine his will resoluing. Though *weake-built hopes perswade him to abstaining. 1656Cowley Pindar. Odes, Life and Fame i, Oh Life..Vain weak-built Isthmus, which dost proudly rise Up betwixt two Eternities.
1842Loudon Suburban Hort. 705 In *weak-growing sorts, apt to fruit, they should be encouraged with manure.
1593Shakes. Lucr. 1260 Those proud Lords to blame, Make *weak-made women tenants to their shame.
1727–46Thomson Summer 1260 Nor, when cold Winter keens the brightening flood, Would I *weak-shivering linger on the brink.
c. † weak-back, † -wit, one who is weak in the back, in mind; † weak-heart a. = weak-hearted.
a1425tr. Arderne's Treat. Fistula, etc. 8 All þinges ar hard to a waik hert man, for þai trow euermore yuellez to be nyȝe to þam. 1656Earl of Monmouth tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. i. ix. (1674) 11 [Greek] proves hard of digestion to the squeasie stomacks of modern weak-wits. 1659Cleveland Vit. Uxoris xviii, By thee 'tis likely shee'l have none. Whilst thou for weak-back go.
†B. n. = feeble n. 4, foible 2. In quot. 1683 fig. Obs.
1683D. A. Art of Converse 87 And so [we] lose a considerable advantage over our Adversary by not reflecting where the weak of his discourse lies; we think only on't when the stroke is past. 1692Sir W. Hope Fencing Master 28 Thrust with the Fort of your Sword upon the weak of his.
▪ II. † weak, v. Obs.
Forms: 5–6 weke, weyk, weik, wayk, Sc. waik, (6 vaik), 6 week, 6–9 weak.
[f. weak a.]
1. trans. To make weak or weaker, to weaken or enfeeble. Also fig.
c1400Rom. Rose 4737 A strengthe, weyked to stonde vp⁓right [Fr. force enferme], And feblenesse, ful of might. 1459Paston Lett. I. 444 He..is ryte lowe browt, and sore weykid and feblyd. 1502Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W.) iii. iii. (1506) 156 In weykynge them and dyscouragynge, be it by theyr euyll example or otherwyse. 1513Douglas æneis ix. x. 50 Nor ȝit the slaw nor febill onwieldy age May waik our spreit, nor mynys our curage. a1536Tindale Brief Decl. Sacram. (c 1550) B v b, All that comme to the sacrament..with the medytacyon to weak the flesh and strenght the Spyrite agaynst her. c1560A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) xxxiv. 14 Ane fowsum appetyte, That strenth of persoun waikis. a1635Randolph Poems (1638) 50 It weaks the Braine; it spoiles the memory. 1642–7H. More Song of Soul i. ii. lxxx, Which will empair the flesh and weak the knee. 1856J. Ballantine Poems 190 Time hasna dimmed my goshawk ee, Nor weak'd my hand.
absol.1568G. Skeyne Pest (Bannatyne Club) 25 Fasting mundifeis..bot vaikis thair with.
b. To soak in water, to macerate. Cf. woke v. [? After Du. weeken, LG. wêken.]
1559Morwyng Evonymus 10 This herbe..if it be dried and weikte or stiept in wyne a few dayes, then destilled in Balneo Mariæ. Ibid. 72 Newe herbes nede the lesse time, when they are stiept or weekt in wine or other liquor.
2. intr. To become weaker or less severe, be mitigated.
c1374Chaucer Troylus iv. 1144 (Campsall MS.) Somwhat to wayken [Harl. MS. woken] gan þe peyne.
Hence † ˈweaking vbl. n.
1559Morwyng Evonymus 67 Maceration, yt is steping or weking, or els infusion, a watring & moistening. 1581W. S. Exam. Compl. i. 6 Albeit we labour not much with our bodies..yet yee know we labour with our mindes, more to y⊇ weaking of y⊇ same, then by any other bodily exercise we should do. Ibid. ii. 18 b, It may come to y⊇ great desolation and weaking of the strenght of this realme.
▪ III. weak
obs. form of wick. |