imbecilityn.

Brit.

/ˌɪmbᵻˈsɪlᵻti/, U.S.

/ˌɪmbəˈsɪlᵻdi/

Forms: late Middle English inbecillite, late Middle English–1500s imbecillite, 1500s imbecillitee, 1500s imbecillyte, 1500s imbecillytie, 1500s imbecillytye, 1500s imbecyllite, 1500s imbecyllitee, 1500s imbecyllitie, 1500s imbecyllyte, 1500s imbecyllytye, 1500s imbicilitye, 1500s imbicillitye, 1500s imbicillytie, 1500s imbicillytye, 1500s imbiselite, 1500s imbycillity, 1500s inbesyllete, 1500s ymbecillitie, 1500s–1600s imbecilitie, 1500s–1600s imbecillitie, 1500s–1600s imbecillitye, 1500s–1600s imbesilitie, 1500s–1600s imbicillitie, 1500s–1600s imbicillity, 1500s–1600s imbisillitie, 1500s–1700s imbecillity, 1500s– imbecility, 1600s imbicelity, 1600s imbiscility, 1600s–1700s imbicility.

Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French imbecillité; Latin imbēcillitās.

Etymology: < (i) Middle French imbecillité, imbecilité (French imbécillité ) weakness, feebleness, lack of strength or power (c1320 in Old French as imbessilité ), mental or intellectual deficiency, stupidity, foolishness (late 15th cent.), an instance of weakness or feebleness (early 16th cent.), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin imbēcillitāt-, imbēcillitās physical weakness, weakness from illness, fragility, moral or intellectual weakness, impotence, powerlessness < imbēcillus , imbēcillis imbecile adj. + -tās (see -ty suffix¹; compare -ity suffix).Compare Spanish imbecilidad (late 14th cent.), Portuguese imbecilidade , Italian imbecilità (early 15th cent.). Specific forms. For the variation between single and double l , see the etymological note at imbecile adj. With the form inbecillite compare in- prefix⁴ and Middle French inbecilleté (a1460; rare).

†1.

a. Weakness, feebleness; lack of strength or power; infirmity. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > [noun] > weakness

faintise1297

weaknessa1300

faintc1320

feebleness1340

languishingc1384

lamea1400

unferea1400

unferenessa1400

unwielda1400

impotence1406

imbecility?a1425

languisha1425

languoringa1438

unwieldness1437

faintnessa1440

impotency1440

infirmityc1440

debility1484

unlustiness1486

resolution1547

unwieldiness1575

languishment1576

infirmness1596

weakness1603

prostrationa1626

exolution1634

languidness1634

prosternation1650

faintingnessa1661

debilitude1669

flaccidity1676

atony1693

puniness1727

faintishness1733

adynamia1743

asthenia1802

adynamy1817

weakliness1826

tonelessness1873

atonicity1900

?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 82 (MED) If it bifalle for any inbecillite [L. imbecillitatem], i. waikenesse, of þe particle takyng þe reume, þat is to be heled.

?1531 J. Frith Disput. Purgatorye i. sig. e5 Sith we are not of power and abilite to performe the lawe of god..lamentinge oure imbecillitye that we can do him no further pleasure.

1561 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger Hundred Serm. vpon Apocalips xcvi. 666 The Lord talketh with vs and euen lispeth, to the ende we might after the imbecillitie of our witte conceaue these thinges.

1596 P. Barrough Method of Phisick (ed. 3) viii. 458 It is a singular help..against the imbecillity of the kidneis.

1624 H. Wotton Elements Archit. in Reliquiæ Wottonianæ (1672) 32 Such [Arches]..for the natural imbecillity of the sharp Angle itself..ought to be exiled from judicious eyes.

1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia 366 The imbecility of the stomach..is a vice of the concocting faculty.

1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth II. 52 If any thing can give us a picture of complete imbecillity, it is a man when just come into the world.

1783 S. Johnson Let. 22 Nov. (1994) IV. 248 Another evidence of its own imbecillity.

1822 J. M. Good Study Med. I. 148 The imbecility of the liver is..obvious in most cases [of dyspepsia].

a1856 W. Hamilton Lect. Metaphysics (1860) IV. xxx. 113 The imbecility of the human intellect in general.

1893 Rosary June 111 The neutrality of Liberalism arises from its imbecility; the positiveness of Catholicity springs from its strength.

b. As a count noun: an instance of weakness or feebleness; an infirmity. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

?1541 R. Copland Galen's Fourth Bk. Terapeutyke sig. Ej, in Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens Dyspathies, Metasyncrises, Imbecyllitees [Fr. imbecillitez], fyrmytudes, and sondry other such names.

1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus (new ed.) 200 The Gods themselues had their imbecilities. Saturne was peuishe, Iupiter adulterous, Apollo wanton, and Titan enuious.

1619 T. Milles tr. P. Mexia et al. Αρχαιο-πλουτος 380/2 Catarrhes, rheumes, and other imbecillities.

1671 R. Selbie Let. 28 Apr. in H. Oldenburg Corr. (1971) VIII. 13 An Imbecillitie in his left legg.

1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iv. x. 156 Such Imbecillities of Nature.

1787 J. Anderson Med. Remarks Evacuation vi. 54 If gross, and of a reddish, or an icteritious colour, it [sc. urine] indicates a redundance of crude recrements, from unconcocted blood, and an imbecility of the secretory faculty.

1821 Rules & Orders for Regulation of Master Bakers' School 5 Distressed Master Bakers, who by their industry supported their families, till the imbecilities of nature, or the accidents of life, have checked their labours.

1862 H. Spencer First Princ. i. v. §27. 98 Those imbecilities of the understanding.

†2. Inability or incapacity (to do something); an instance of this. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > inability > [noun] > to do something

imbecility1538

1538 E. Bonner Let. 2 Sept. in J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (1570) II. 1240/1 I must here knowledge the exceeding greatnes of your Lordshippes benefite, with mine owne imbecillitie to recompence it.

1676 J. Hopwood Blessed Rest Burthened Sinner 4 Their imperfection in and imbecility to perform the strictness of the Law.

1767 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. (new ed.) II. 265 A tenant for life, for years, at will, or a copyholder, cannot prescribe, by reason of the imbecillity of their estates.

1787 Gentleman's & London Mag. May 247/1 Of this the first symptoms were an imbecility to resist any temptation abroad on a Sunday evening, [etc.].

1812 J. J. Henry Accurate Acct. Campaign against Quebec 146 Its imbecility to restrain us was apparent.

1813 C. Lamb in Philanthropist Jan. 51 Languid enjoyment of evil, with utter imbecility to good.

1870 Congress. Globe 21 Mar. 2092/1 It was no exertion of just power to go to work and confess its imbecility to find out the guilty.

a. Mental or intellectual deficiency or weakness, esp. as characterizing action, behaviour, etc.; stupidity, foolishness, idiocy. Sometimes spec.: the state or condition of suffering from a mental retardation, typically of a moderate or severe degree (now largely disused and considered somewhat offensive).In technical use, the degree of mental retardation implied by the term has varied according to context: see imbecile n. 2.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > weakness of intellect > [noun] > idiocy

idiotism1611

imbecility1624

idiotcy1677

idiotry1757

duncicality1790

1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia vi. 222 Giue mee leaue to excuse my selfe of so much imbecillitie, as to say, that in these eighteene yeeres..I haue not learned, there is a great difference betwixt the directions and iudgements of experimentall knowledge, and the superficiall coniecture of variable relation.

1803 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 9 339 Can a stronger proof of the fallacy and imbecility of the Brunonian System be required?

1834 Tait's Edinb. Mag. New Ser. 1 57 The Mulgraves and Masseys..might have drolled and drivelled forth their sickening imbecility for half a century.

1862 F. Winslow in Times 2 Jan. I class the case..as a case of imbecility. In medical language it would be termed a case of amentia as distinguished from dementia.

1918 E. Pound Let. 4 June (1971) 138 After years of this sort of puling imbecility one gets hot under the collar.

1952 Sewage & Industr. Wastes 24 258/1 It seems sheer imbecility to believe that the recording of construction changes is nonessential.

1962 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 27 Jan. 218/1 The prevalence in Middlesex of severe mental defect, amounting to idiocy and imbecility, is higher than that reported in most recent surveys.

2004 F. Wheen How Mumbo-jumbo conquered World 7 Dunderheads..argue that ‘ignorance is bliss’ to assuage any prickings of guilt at their own imbecility.

b. As a count noun: an instance of stupidity, foolishness, or idiocy; an imbecilic act, utterance, belief, etc.

ΚΠ

1749 Daily Gazetteer 20 Feb. I conceive there is no Ground for believing that Patriots being subject to like Imbecillities is a perfect Chimera.

1843 R. Vaughan Age Great Cities ii. 25 It [sc. the religion of ancient Greece] consisted of imbecilities which a child might have repudiated.

1888 J. Inglis Tent Life Tigerland 4 The sneers and stupid imbecilities of the untravelled..sceptic.

1915 Boston Sunday Post 18 Apr. 24/1 Another imbecility of theirs is that the South has gone dry because the white people..are afraid of the drunken negro.

1955 C. Beaton Diary in Self Portrait with Friends (1979) xx. 289 Diana listened hardly at all to my imbecilities: she was deep in her own thoughts.

1972 Irish Times 21 Sept. 10/1 War is an imbecility initiated by lunatics.

2017 Barron's 22 May 37/1 I wouldn't quibble with those who insist that Trump's economic imbecilities quantitatively exceed those of past presidents.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	imbecility
释义	imbecilityn. Brit. /ˌɪmbᵻˈsɪlᵻti/, U.S. /ˌɪmbəˈsɪlᵻdi/ Forms: late Middle English inbecillite, late Middle English–1500s imbecillite, 1500s imbecillitee, 1500s imbecillyte, 1500s imbecillytie, 1500s imbecillytye, 1500s imbecyllite, 1500s imbecyllitee, 1500s imbecyllitie, 1500s imbecyllyte, 1500s imbecyllytye, 1500s imbicilitye, 1500s imbicillitye, 1500s imbicillytie, 1500s imbicillytye, 1500s imbiselite, 1500s imbycillity, 1500s inbesyllete, 1500s ymbecillitie, 1500s–1600s imbecilitie, 1500s–1600s imbecillitie, 1500s–1600s imbecillitye, 1500s–1600s imbesilitie, 1500s–1600s imbicillitie, 1500s–1600s imbicillity, 1500s–1600s imbisillitie, 1500s–1700s imbecillity, 1500s– imbecility, 1600s imbicelity, 1600s imbiscility, 1600s–1700s imbicility. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French imbecillité; Latin imbēcillitās. Etymology: < (i) Middle French imbecillité, imbecilité (French imbécillité ) weakness, feebleness, lack of strength or power (c1320 in Old French as imbessilité ), mental or intellectual deficiency, stupidity, foolishness (late 15th cent.), an instance of weakness or feebleness (early 16th cent.), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin imbēcillitāt-, imbēcillitās physical weakness, weakness from illness, fragility, moral or intellectual weakness, impotence, powerlessness < imbēcillus , imbēcillis imbecile adj. + -tās (see -ty suffix¹; compare -ity suffix).Compare Spanish imbecilidad (late 14th cent.), Portuguese imbecilidade , Italian imbecilità (early 15th cent.). Specific forms. For the variation between single and double l , see the etymological note at imbecile adj. With the form inbecillite compare in- prefix⁴ and Middle French inbecilleté (a1460; rare). †1. a. Weakness, feebleness; lack of strength or power; infirmity. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > [noun] > weakness faintise1297 weaknessa1300 faintc1320 feebleness1340 languishingc1384 lamea1400 unferea1400 unferenessa1400 unwielda1400 impotence1406 imbecility?a1425 languisha1425 languoringa1438 unwieldness1437 faintnessa1440 impotency1440 infirmityc1440 debility1484 unlustiness1486 resolution1547 unwieldiness1575 languishment1576 infirmness1596 weakness1603 prostrationa1626 exolution1634 languidness1634 prosternation1650 faintingnessa1661 debilitude1669 flaccidity1676 atony1693 puniness1727 faintishness1733 adynamia1743 asthenia1802 adynamy1817 weakliness1826 tonelessness1873 atonicity1900 ?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 82 (MED) If it bifalle for any inbecillite [L. imbecillitatem], i. waikenesse, of þe particle takyng þe reume, þat is to be heled. ?1531 J. Frith Disput. Purgatorye i. sig. e5 Sith we are not of power and abilite to performe the lawe of god..lamentinge oure imbecillitye that we can do him no further pleasure. 1561 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger Hundred Serm. vpon Apocalips xcvi. 666 The Lord talketh with vs and euen lispeth, to the ende we might after the imbecillitie of our witte conceaue these thinges. 1596 P. Barrough Method of Phisick (ed. 3) viii. 458 It is a singular help..against the imbecillity of the kidneis. 1624 H. Wotton Elements Archit. in Reliquiæ Wottonianæ (1672) 32 Such [Arches]..for the natural imbecillity of the sharp Angle itself..ought to be exiled from judicious eyes. 1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia 366 The imbecility of the stomach..is a vice of the concocting faculty. 1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth II. 52 If any thing can give us a picture of complete imbecillity, it is a man when just come into the world. 1783 S. Johnson Let. 22 Nov. (1994) IV. 248 Another evidence of its own imbecillity. 1822 J. M. Good Study Med. I. 148 The imbecility of the liver is..obvious in most cases [of dyspepsia]. a1856 W. Hamilton Lect. Metaphysics (1860) IV. xxx. 113 The imbecility of the human intellect in general. 1893 Rosary June 111 The neutrality of Liberalism arises from its imbecility; the positiveness of Catholicity springs from its strength. b. As a count noun: an instance of weakness or feebleness; an infirmity. Obsolete. ΚΠ ?1541 R. Copland Galen's Fourth Bk. Terapeutyke sig. Ej, in Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens Dyspathies, Metasyncrises, Imbecyllitees [Fr. imbecillitez], fyrmytudes, and sondry other such names. 1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus (new ed.) 200 The Gods themselues had their imbecilities. Saturne was peuishe, Iupiter adulterous, Apollo wanton, and Titan enuious. 1619 T. Milles tr. P. Mexia et al. Αρχαιο-πλουτος 380/2 Catarrhes, rheumes, and other imbecillities. 1671 R. Selbie Let. 28 Apr. in H. Oldenburg Corr. (1971) VIII. 13 An Imbecillitie in his left legg. 1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iv. x. 156 Such Imbecillities of Nature. 1787 J. Anderson Med. Remarks Evacuation vi. 54 If gross, and of a reddish, or an icteritious colour, it [sc. urine] indicates a redundance of crude recrements, from unconcocted blood, and an imbecility of the secretory faculty. 1821 Rules & Orders for Regulation of Master Bakers' School 5 Distressed Master Bakers, who by their industry supported their families, till the imbecilities of nature, or the accidents of life, have checked their labours. 1862 H. Spencer First Princ. i. v. §27. 98 Those imbecilities of the understanding. †2. Inability or incapacity (to do something); an instance of this. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > inability > [noun] > to do something imbecility1538 1538 E. Bonner Let. 2 Sept. in J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (1570) II. 1240/1 I must here knowledge the exceeding greatnes of your Lordshippes benefite, with mine owne imbecillitie to recompence it. 1676 J. Hopwood Blessed Rest Burthened Sinner 4 Their imperfection in and imbecility to perform the strictness of the Law. 1767 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. (new ed.) II. 265 A tenant for life, for years, at will, or a copyholder, cannot prescribe, by reason of the imbecillity of their estates. 1787 Gentleman's & London Mag. May 247/1 Of this the first symptoms were an imbecility to resist any temptation abroad on a Sunday evening, [etc.]. 1812 J. J. Henry Accurate Acct. Campaign against Quebec 146 Its imbecility to restrain us was apparent. 1813 C. Lamb in Philanthropist Jan. 51 Languid enjoyment of evil, with utter imbecility to good. 1870 Congress. Globe 21 Mar. 2092/1 It was no exertion of just power to go to work and confess its imbecility to find out the guilty. 3. a. Mental or intellectual deficiency or weakness, esp. as characterizing action, behaviour, etc.; stupidity, foolishness, idiocy. Sometimes spec.: the state or condition of suffering from a mental retardation, typically of a moderate or severe degree (now largely disused and considered somewhat offensive).In technical use, the degree of mental retardation implied by the term has varied according to context: see imbecile n. 2. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > weakness of intellect > [noun] > idiocy idiotism1611 imbecility1624 idiotcy1677 idiotry1757 duncicality1790 1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia vi. 222 Giue mee leaue to excuse my selfe of so much imbecillitie, as to say, that in these eighteene yeeres..I haue not learned, there is a great difference betwixt the directions and iudgements of experimentall knowledge, and the superficiall coniecture of variable relation. 1803 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 9 339 Can a stronger proof of the fallacy and imbecility of the Brunonian System be required? 1834 Tait's Edinb. Mag. New Ser. 1 57 The Mulgraves and Masseys..might have drolled and drivelled forth their sickening imbecility for half a century. 1862 F. Winslow in Times 2 Jan. I class the case..as a case of imbecility. In medical language it would be termed a case of amentia as distinguished from dementia. 1918 E. Pound Let. 4 June (1971) 138 After years of this sort of puling imbecility one gets hot under the collar. 1952 Sewage & Industr. Wastes 24 258/1 It seems sheer imbecility to believe that the recording of construction changes is nonessential. 1962 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 27 Jan. 218/1 The prevalence in Middlesex of severe mental defect, amounting to idiocy and imbecility, is higher than that reported in most recent surveys. 2004 F. Wheen How Mumbo-jumbo conquered World 7 Dunderheads..argue that ‘ignorance is bliss’ to assuage any prickings of guilt at their own imbecility. b. As a count noun: an instance of stupidity, foolishness, or idiocy; an imbecilic act, utterance, belief, etc. ΚΠ 1749 Daily Gazetteer 20 Feb. I conceive there is no Ground for believing that Patriots being subject to like Imbecillities is a perfect Chimera. 1843 R. Vaughan Age Great Cities ii. 25 It [sc. the religion of ancient Greece] consisted of imbecilities which a child might have repudiated. 1888 J. Inglis Tent Life Tigerland 4 The sneers and stupid imbecilities of the untravelled..sceptic. 1915 Boston Sunday Post 18 Apr. 24/1 Another imbecility of theirs is that the South has gone dry because the white people..are afraid of the drunken negro. 1955 C. Beaton Diary in Self Portrait with Friends (1979) xx. 289 Diana listened hardly at all to my imbecilities: she was deep in her own thoughts. 1972 Irish Times 21 Sept. 10/1 War is an imbecility initiated by lunatics. 2017 Barron's 22 May 37/1 I wouldn't quibble with those who insist that Trump's economic imbecilities quantitatively exceed those of past presidents. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.?a1425
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