From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Debility \De*bil"i*ty\, n. [L. debilitas, fr. debilis weak,
prob. fr. de- + habilis able: cf. F. d['e]bilit['e]. See
{Able}, a.]
The state of being weak; weakness; feebleness; languor.
[1913 Webster]
The inconveniences of too strong a perspiration, which
are debility, faintness, and sometimes sudden death.
--Arbuthnot.
Syn: {Debility}, {Infirmity}, {Imbecility}.
Usage: An infirmity belongs, for the most part, to particular
members, and is often temporary, as of the eyes, etc.
Debility is more general, and while it lasts impairs
the ordinary functions of nature. Imbecility attaches
to the whole frame, and renders it more or less
powerless. Debility may be constitutional or may be
the result or superinduced causes; Imbecility is
always constitutional; infirmity is accidental, and
results from sickness or a decay of the frame. These
words, in their figurative uses, have the same
distinctions; we speak of infirmity of will, debility
of body, and an Imbecility which affects the whole
man; but Imbecility is often used with specific
reference to feebleness of mind.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
debility
n 1: the state of being weak in health or body (especially from
old age) [syn: {infirmity}, {frailty}, {debility},
{feebleness}, {frailness}, {valetudinarianism}]
|
