feeble的词源

英文词源

feeble: feeble: [12] Semantically, feeble was originally a close relative of deplorable and lamentable, but over the centuries it has perged 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.

来自拉丁语flebilis的拼写异化词，呻吟，哭叫，词源同bleat, blare.

该词的英语词源请访问趣词词源英文版：feeble 词源，feeble 含义。