Read along with the three podcasts, or open the full dictionary entry for Feeble for the definition, Arabic meaning, synonyms and example sentences.
Narrator: Today's word is "Feeble" — adjective, pronounced /ˈfiːbəl/, with the stress on "fee".
Narrator: Feeble means lacking physical or mental strength, weak and ineffective.
Narrator: In plain English, a feeble person is weak — like a feeble old man, or a feeble excuse that's unconvincing.
Narrator: It comes from the Old French feble, meaning weak, from the Latin debilis, meaning weak or disabled.
Narrator: "A feeble excuse" describes an excuse that is weak and unconvincing.
Narrator: It differs from weak because feeble is more emotive and dismissive, whereas weak is neutral.
Narrator: "A feeble attempt" is a sense meaning an attempt that lacks effort or strength.
Narrator: Medicine, everyday speech, description and literature all rely on the word feeble.
Narrator: So remember: feeble means weak, from the Latin for weak.
Speaker A: What does feeble mean?
Speaker B: Weak! FEEBLE comes from the Old French feble, from the Latin debilis, weak, so it means lacking strength or ineffective.
Speaker A: So a feeble excuse is weak?
Speaker B: Yes — unconvincing and weak!
Speaker A: Example sentences?
Speaker B: "A feeble excuse"; "a feeble attempt"; "a feeble old man" — excuses, efforts and people.
Speaker A: Common mistakes?
Speaker B: Don't confuse feeble with feudal, because feeble means weak, while feudal relates to medieval landholding.
Speaker A: Close relatives?
Speaker B: 'Weak' the general cousin, 'frail' the delicate twin, 'faint' the dim alternative. The word keeps its weak charm!
Speaker B: Let's use "feeble" in AI prompts — useful for writing apps and description tools.
Speaker A: So a prompt could frame writing?
Speaker B: Right. For a writing app, you'd write:
Prompt: Write a short guide to using feeble in description, naming two examples.
Speaker A: How about a description tool?
Speaker B: Ask the model to advise:
Prompt: Draft a character sketch of a feeble person, naming two traits.
Speaker A: Could it help with a dialogue bot?
Speaker B: Yes, you can frame speech:
Prompt: Summarise in two sentences how to dismiss a feeble argument, naming one tactic.
Speaker A: One more?
Speaker B: For a medical chatbot, try this:
Prompt: Write a short note on feeble pulse, naming one meaning.
Feeble — meaning in Arabic & definition More F courses GL Dictionary