foibleadj.n.
/ˈfɔɪbl/, U.S. /ˈfɔɪb(ə)l/ Weak. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > bodily constitution > bodily weakness > [adjective]
wokec897
unstronga900
unmightyeOE
feeblec1175
strengthlessc1175
unwieldc1220
weaka1300
frailc1384
unwieldyc1386
unthendec1425
dissolutec1450
unsure?a1475
feyc1475
simple1477
unfirm1483
unsinewed?1541
wash1548
weakling1557
ladylike1566
silly1567
water weak1592
washya1631
wankle1686
foible1715
unmuscular1725
nerveless1792
wankly1795
shilpit1813
wankya1825
sinewless1829
weedy-looking1835
queachy1859
insubstantiala1861
paper-backed1888
weak-fleshed1967
the world > action or operation > manner of action > lack of violence, severity, or intensity > [adjective] > weak (of immaterial things)
thin?c1225
wateryc1230
feeble1393
wash1548
waterish1549
fadea1554
limping1577
dilute1605
lank1607
languid1622
water gruel1630
invalid1635
sinewless1644
exsanguine1647
flaccid1647
diluted1681
wishy-washy1693
tiffany1694
foible1715
rickety1738
faintly1771
unrobust1775
pale1820
peely-wally1832
muscleless1841
weakling1848
weedy?1858
feeblose1882
papery1924
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > [adjective] > ineffective
deadc1380
virtuelessa1393
uneffectuous1549
inefficace1570
limping1577
unprevailing1604
inficient1609
weak1609
unofficious1611
penny farthing1615
invalidable1634
invalid1635
unprevalent1640
ineffectible1650
ineffective1651
inefficacious1658
insignificant1661
uneffective1670
popgun1690
foible1715
unefficacious1744
inefficient1750
ineffectual1785
effete1790
foisonlessc1817
puttering1857
non-effective1862
non-efficient1863
shaftless1881
powder puff1911
fouled-up1942
1715 M. Davies Εἰκων Μικρο-βιβλικὴ Pref. 53 In case the Spell of English Musical Poetry prove too foible for the Serpentin Venom of that Italick Insect.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word) It literally signifies weak, and in that Sense is applied to the Body of Animals, and the Parts therof: As, foible Reins, foible Sight, &c.
B. n.
1. A weak point; a failing or weakness of character. Cf. feeble adj. 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > [noun] > moral weakness > a moral weakness
debilitya1533
frailtya1616
weakness1645
foible1673
feeble1678
foiblesse1685
weak point1827
1673 J. Dryden Marriage a-la-Mode iii. i. 38 I fear they have found my foible, and will turn me into ridicule.
1691 T. Beverley Thousand Years' Kingdom 1 The Smaller Foiblees [sic] or Faylures of speech..signifie little in the main Pursuit of Truth.
1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews I. Pref. p. xvii The accidental Consequences of some human Frailty or Foible . View more context for this quotation
1852 W. M. Thackeray Henry Esmond II. xiii. 225 A foible of Mr. Holt's..was omniscience.
1883 J. Hawthorne Dust I. 72 It has always been my foible to speak before I look.
2. Fencing. = feeble adj. 4.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > fighting sports > fencing > [noun] > foil > part of
button1598
prime1639
feeble1645
foiblea1648
fortea1648
stronga1648
sworda1648
weak1683
seconde1688
strength1702
a1648 Ld. Herbert Life (1976) 32 A Foyle..hath two Parts, One of which he calleth the Fort or strong and the other the Foyble or weake.
1755 New & Compl. Dict. Arts & Sci. IV. 3073 Fencing-masters divide the sword into..the fort, middle, and foible.
1833 Regulations Instr. Cavalry i. iv. 115 The ‘forte’ ought always to gain the ‘foible’ of the opponent's weapon.
1879 Encycl. Brit. IX. 70 The wrist must be suddenly raised, so as to bring the ‘forte’ of one's sword to the ‘foible’ of the adversary's.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.a1648