Imbecility

Imbecility
Imbecility Im`be*cil"i*ty, n.; pl. {Imbecilities}. [L. imbecillitas: cf. F. imb['e]cillit['e].] The quality of being imbecile; weakness; feebleness, esp. of mind. [1913 Webster]

Cruelty . . . argues not only a depravedness of nature, but also a meanness of courage and imbecility of mind. --Sir W. Temple. [1913 Webster]

Note: This term is used specifically to denote natural weakness of the mental faculties, affecting one's power to act reasonably or intelligently.

Syn: Debility; infirmity; weakness; feebleness; impotence. See {Debility}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • imbecility — (n.) early 15c., physical weakness, feebleness (of a body part), impotence, from M.Fr. imbécillité and directly from L. imbecillitatem (nom. imbecillitas) weakness, feebleness, from imbecillus weak, feeble, traditionally said to mean unsupported… …   Etymology dictionary

  • imbecility — [im΄bə sil′ə tē] n. pl. imbecilities [Fr imbécillité < L imbecillitas] 1. the state of being an imbecile 2. behavior like that of an imbecile; great foolishness or stupidity 3. an imbecile act or remark …   English World dictionary

  • Imbecility — (Roget s Thesaurus) Folly. < N PARAG:Imbecility >N GRP: N 1 Sgm: N 1 want of intelligence want of intelligence &c. 498 want of intellect &c. 450 Sgm: N 1 shadowness shadowness silliness foolishness &c. >Adj. Sgm: N 1 imbecility… …   English dictionary for students

  • imbecility — imbecile ► NOUN informal ▪ a stupid person. ► ADJECTIVE ▪ stupid. DERIVATIVES imbecilic adjective imbecility noun (pl. imbecilities) . ORIGIN originally in the sense «physically weak»: from Latin imbecillus without a supporting staff …   English terms dictionary

  • imbecility — noun (plural ties) Date: circa 1533 1. the quality or state of being imbecile or an imbecile 2. a. utter foolishness; also futility b. something that is foolish or nonsensical …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • imbecility — /im beuh sil i tee/, n., pl. imbecilities. 1. Psychol. the state of being an imbecile. 2. an instance or point of weakness; feebleness; incapability. 3. stupidity; silliness; absurdity. 4. an instance of this. [1525 35; earlier imbecillity < L… …   Universalium

  • imbecility — noun a) The quality of being imbecile; weakness; feebleness, especially of mind. b) Something imbecilic; a stupid action, behaviour, etc …   Wiktionary

  • imbecility — Synonyms and related words: amentia, arrested development, asininity, backwardness, battiness, blithering idiocy, brainlessness, buffoonery, clownishness, crackpottedness, crankiness, craziness, cretinism, daffiness, desipience, disability,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • imbecility — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. idiocy. See insanity. II (Roget s IV) n. 1. [Folly] Syn. foolishness, idiocy, silliness, absurdity; see stupidity 1 , 2 . 2. [Feeble mindedness] Syn. moronity, retardation, cretinism; see insanity 1 …   English dictionary for students

  • imbecility — im·be·cil·i·ty || ‚ɪmbɪ sɪlÉ™tɪ n. mentally handicapped condition (Psychology); stupidity, foolishness, silliness …   English contemporary dictionary

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