feeble: [12] Semantically, feeble was originally a close relative of deplorable and lamentable, but over the centuries it has diverged markedly from them. Its ultimate source was Latin flēbilis, a derivative of the verb flēre ‘weep’. In classical times this meant literally ‘worthy of being cried over, lamentable’, but later it came to signify ‘weak’. It passed in this sense into Old French as fleible, which subsequently became feible or feble (source of English feeble), and later still foible (whence English foible [17]) and faible (the modern French form). => foible
feeble (adj.)
late 12c., "lacking strength or vigor" (physical, moral, or intellectual), from Old French feble "weak, feeble" (12c., Modern French faible), dissimilated from Latin flebilis "lamentable," literally "that is to be wept over," from flere "weep, cry, shed tears, lament," from PIE *bhle- "to howl" (see bleat (v.)). The first -l- was lost in Old French. The noun meaning "feeble person" is recorded from mid-14c.
例文
1. He gave a feeble shrug and tried to squirm free.
彼は無力に肩をすくめ、体をねじって振り抜けようとした。
2.The Observer found the play "a feeble rehash of familiar Miller themes "
＜オブザーバー紙＞は、このドラマは「おなじみのミラー式テーマの拙速なリメイク」だと考えている。
3.This is a particularly feeble argument.
という論点は特に立っていられない。
4.a feeble old man
衰弱した老人
5.She made a feeble effort to get to school on time.