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weaken |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Weaken \Weak"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Weakened}; p. pr & vb n. {Weakening}.] 1. To make weak; to lessen the strength of to deprive of strength; to debilitate; to enfeeble; to enervate; as to weaken the body or the mind; to weaken the hands of a magistrate; to weaken the force of an objection or an argument. Their hands shall be weakened from the work that it be not done --Neh. vi 9. 2. To reduce in quality, strength, or spirit; as to weaken tea; to weaken any solution or decoction. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Weaken \Weak"en\, v. i. To become weak or weaker; to lose strength, spirit, or determination; to become less positive or resolute; as the patient weakened; the witness weakened on cross-examination. ``His notion weakens, his discernings are lethargied.'' --Shak. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: weaken v 1: lessen the strength of "The fever weakened his body" [ant: {strengthen}] 2: become weaker; "The prisoner's resistance weakened after seven days" [ant: {strengthen}] 3: destroy property or hinder normal operations; "The Resistance sabotaged railroad operations during the war" [syn: {sabotage}, {undermine}, {countermine}, {counteract}, {subvert}] 4: reduce the level or intensity of "de-escalate a crisis" [syn: {de-escalate}, {step down}] [ant: {escalate}] 5: lessen in force or effect; "soften a shock"; "break a fall" [syn: {dampen}, {damp}, {soften}, {break}]
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