| 释义 |
debility|dɪˈbɪlɪtɪ|
Also 5–6 debyli-, debilyte, -tee, -tye, 6–7 -tie.
[a. F. débilité (Oresme, 14th c.), ad. L. dēbilitās, f. dēbili-s weak.]
1. The condition of being weak or feeble; weakness, infirmity; want of strength; esp. that condition of the body in which the vital functions generally are feebly discharged.
1484Caxton æsop v. xii, The grete feblenesse and debylyte of thy lene body. 1494Fabyan Chron. vii. 556 For his feblenesse or debylyte of age. 1545T. Raynalde Byrth Mankynde H h vij, To help the debilite of nature with cupping glassis. 1563Homilies ii. Idleness (1859) 517 By reason of age, debility of body, or want of health. 1650Bulwer Anthropomet. 105 By reason of the debility of his stomack. 1748Anson's Voy. iii. iv. 331 After full three hours ineffectual labour..the men being quite jaded, we were obliged, by mere debility, to desist. 1867Kingsley Lett. (1878) II. 260 With the cure of stammering, nervous debility decreases. 1879G. C. Harlan Eyesight vi. 89 After long illness, the muscle of accommodation shares the debility of the whole system.
†b. Weakness of a material structure. Obs.
1563–87Foxe A. & M. (1596) 247/1 Either by the debilitie of the bridge, or subtiltie of the soldiors..3000 of them with bridge and all fell armed into the violent stream.
2. Weakness in a mental or moral quality.
1474Caxton Chesse 65 For the debylite and feblenes of corage. 1502Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) iv. xi. 197 After the debylyte of fragylyte humayne. 1758H. Walpole Catal. Roy. Authors (1759) II. 219 This Lord had much debility of mind, and a kind of superstitious scruples. 1805Foster Ess. ii. iv. 176 This debility of purpose. 1829I. Taylor Enthus. ii. (1867) 33 A wretched debility and dejection of the heart.
3. Political, social, or pecuniary weakness.
1525Ld. Berners Froiss. II. ccxxxviij [ccxxxiv] 738 The debylyte of the realme of Englande. 1540Act 32 Hen. VIII, c. 1 §1 Wylling to releue and helpe his saide subiectes in their said necessities and debilitye. 1818Cruise Digest (ed. 2) I. 139 Which B. could not have for the debility of his estate. 1871Morley Voltaire (1886) 182 The debility of the courts of Austria and France.
†4. (with pl.) An instance of weakness. Obs.
a1533Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) E viij, The open honestee supplyeth many fautes and debilytees. 1654tr. Scudery's Curia Pol. 61 They to guarde us from humane passions, and the debilities of Nature. 1825T. Jefferson Autobiog. Wks. 1859 I. 82 Among the debilities of the government of the Confederation.
b. Astrol. Of a planet: A weakness or diminution of influence due to unfavourable position, etc.
1647Lilly Chr. Astrol. To Rdr. 2, I would have him..well to understand the Debilities and Fortitudes of every Planet. 1706Phillips (ed. Kersey) s.v., Debilities are either Essential, when a Planet is in its Detriment, Fall, or Peregrine; or Accidental, when it is in the 12th, 8th, or 6th Houses; or Combust, etc. So that by each of those Circumstances, a Planet is more or less afflicted, and said to have so many or so few Debilities. |