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weakestmore about weakest

weakest

 

  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Weak  \Weak\  (w[=e]k),  a.  [Compar.  {Weaker}  (-[~e]r);  superl. 
  {Weakest}.]  [OE.  weik,  Icel.  veikr  akin  to  Sw  vek,  Dan.  veg 
  soft,  flexible,  pliant,  AS  w[=a]c  weak,  soft,  pliant,  D. 
  week,  G.  weich,  OHG.  weih;  all  from  the  verb  seen  in  Icel. 
  v[=i]kja  to  turn,  veer,  recede,  AS  w[=i]can  to  yield,  give 
  way  G.  weichen  OHG.  w[=i]hhan,  akin  to  Skr.  vij,  and 
  probably  to  E.  week,  L.  vicis  a  change,  turn,  Gr  e'i`kein  to 
  yield,  give  way  [root]132.  Cf  {Week},  {Wink},  v.  i. 
  {Vicissitude}.] 
  1.  Wanting  physical  strength.  Specifically: 
  a  Deficient  in  strength  of  body;  feeble;  infirm;  sickly; 
  debilitated;  enfeebled;  exhausted. 
 
  A  poor,  infirm,  weak,  and  despised  old  man. 
  --Shak. 
 
  Weak  with  hunger,  mad  with  love.  --Dryden. 
  b  Not  able  to  sustain  a  great  weight,  pressure,  or 
  strain;  as  a  weak  timber;  a  weak  rope. 
  c  Not  firmly  united  or  adhesive;  easily  broken  or 
  separated  into  pieces;  not  compact;  as  a  weak  ship. 
  d  Not  stiff;  pliant;  frail;  soft;  as  the  weak  stalk  of 
  a  plant. 
  e  Not  able  to  resist  external  force  or  onset;  easily 
  subdued  or  overcome;  as  a  weak  barrier;  as  a  weak 
  fortress. 
  f  Lacking  force  of  utterance  or  sound;  not  sonorous; 
  low  small  feeble;  faint. 
 
  A  voice  not  soft,  weak,  piping,  and  womanish. 
  --Ascham. 
  g  Not  thoroughly  or  abundantly  impregnated  with  the 
  usual  or  required  ingredients,  or  with  stimulating  and 
  nourishing  substances;  of  less  than  the  usual 
  strength;  as  weak  tea,  broth,  or  liquor;  a  weak 
  decoction  or  solution;  a  weak  dose  of  medicine. 
  h  Lacking  ability  for  an  appropriate  function  or  office; 
  as  weak  eyes;  a  weak  stomach;  a  weak  magistrate;  a 
  weak  regiment,  or  army. 
 
  2.  Not  possessing  or  manifesting  intellectual,  logical, 
  moral,  or  political  strength,  vigor,  etc  Specifically: 
  a  Feeble  of  mind;  wanting  discernment;  lacking  vigor; 
  spiritless;  as  a  weak  king  or  magistrate. 
 
  To  think  every  thing  disputable  is  a  proof  of  a 
  weak  mind  and  captious  temper.  --Beattie. 
 
  Origen  was  never  weak  enough  to  imagine  that 
  there  were  two  Gods.  --Waterland. 
  b  Resulting  from  or  indicating,  lack  of  judgment, 
  discernment,  or  firmness;  unwise;  hence  foolish. 
 
  If  evil  thence  ensue,  She  first  his  weak 
  indulgence  will  accuse.  --Milton. 
  c  Not  having  full  confidence  or  conviction;  not  decided 
  or  confirmed;  vacillating;  wavering. 
 
  Him  that  is  weak  in  the  faith  receive  ye  but 
  not  to  doubtful  disputations.  --Rom.  xiv.  1. 
  d  Not  able  to  withstand  temptation,  urgency,  persuasion, 
  etc.;  easily  impressed,  moved  or  overcome; 
  accessible;  vulnerable;  as  weak  resolutions;  weak 
  virtue. 
 
  Guard  thy  heart  On  this  weak  side  where  most 
  our  nature  fails  --Addison. 
  e  Wanting  in  power  to  influence  or  bind;  as  weak  ties; 
  a  weak  sense  of  honor  of  duty. 
  f  Not  having  power  to  convince;  not  supported  by  force 
  of  reason  or  truth;  unsustained  as  a  weak  argument 
  or  case.  ``Convinced  of  his  weak  arguing.''  --Milton. 
 
  A  case  so  weak  .  .  .  hath  much  persisted  in 
  --Hooker. 
  g  Wanting  in  point  or  vigor  of  expression;  as  a  weak 
  sentence;  a  weak  style. 
  h  Not  prevalent  or  effective,  or  not  felt  to  be 
  prevalent;  not  potent;  feeble.  ``Weak  prayers.'' 
  --Shak. 
  i  Lacking  in  elements  of  political  strength;  not 
  wielding  or  having  authority  or  energy;  deficient  in 
  the  resources  that  are  essential  to  a  ruler  or  nation; 
  as  a  weak  monarch;  a  weak  government  or  state. 
 
  I  must  make  fair  weather  yet  awhile,  Till  Henry 
  be  more  weak,  and  I  more  strong.  --Shak. 
  k  (Stock  Exchange)  Tending  towards  lower  prices;  as  a 
  weak  market. 
 
  3.  (Gram.) 
  a  Pertaining  to  or  designating,  a  verb  which  forms  its 
  preterit  (imperfect)  and  past  participle  by  adding  to 
  the  present  the  suffix  -ed,  -d,  or  the  variant  form 
  -t;  as  in  the  verbs  abash,  abashed;  abate,  abated; 
  deny,  denied;  feel  felt.  See  {Strong},  19 
  a  . 
  b  Pertaining  to  or  designating,  a  noun  in  Anglo-Saxon, 
  etc.,  the  stem  of  which  ends  in  -n.  See  {Strong},  19 
  b  . 
 
  Note:  Weak  is  often  used  in  the  formation  of  self-explaining 
  compounds;  as  weak-eyed,  weak-handed,  weak-hearted, 
  weak-minded,  weak-spirited,  and  the  like




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