Lacking physical rigidity, flexible, pliant [glossing L flexibilis, lentus]; also, thin, slender.

(a) Fragile, breakable; of a structure: unsound, liable to collapse; (b) of a fortified place: wanting a sound defense, vulnerable to attack.

(a) Deficient in bodily or muscular strength; with inf.: physically unable (to do sth.) because of weakness; (b) deficient in bodily vigor as a result of age, injury, privation, etc.; enfeebled; also, of weak or frail constitution, not robust in health; with inf.: scarcely able (to do sth.) because of weakness; ~ of strengthe; ~ of colour, pale, wan; ~ of wordes, mumbling or incoherent in (one’s) speech; (c) exhausted of vigor or strength as a result of physical exertion, emotional experience, spiritual travail; spent, faint, debilitated; also in fig. context; (d) as noun: the feeble, those who are weak; also, in generalizing phrase: strong and ~, everyone, people of all sorts.

(a) Of the human condition, an individual’s physical constitution or vital spirits: enfeebled; sickly; (b) of a bodily organ: ill-disposed to perform its normal function, susceptible to distress; of a limb, bodily member: capable of only limited movement or exertion, whether naturally or by impairment, weak, shaky; (c) of a voice, an utterance: faint, indistinct; (d) of physical compression or pressure: light, not forceful.

(a) Of a person, the devil: wanting in strength or skill as a combatant or contestant, relatively deficient in fighting ability; also, of an army, a fighting force, military leader, etc.: relatively deficient in fighting power, having relatively few men, limited resources, etc.; with inf.: unable (to do sth.) because of limited military strength; ~ to, militarily inferior to (sb.); (b) as noun: one who is relatively less skilled or powerful in battle; also, a relatively defenseless animal; also, coll. those less powerful in battle; those unable to defend themselves, the weak; (c) of combative strength: ineffectual, weak.

(a) Deficient in spiritual or moral fortitude, weak in faith, unsteadfast in devotion, susceptible to temptation; (b) deficient in intellectual strength, liable to be misled, foolish, ignorant; ~ of herte (lore, wit); (c) cowardly, pusillanimous; faint of heart, timid, squeamish; ~ herte man, a fearful man; (d) sluggish, indolent; (e) of the mind, mental powers, volition, etc.: weak in power, not keen, deficient, inadequate;—also used in expressions of modest self-disparagement or self-deprecation.

Lacking in power or authority over others, ineffectual, impotent.

(a) Of a substance, a quality: attenuated, lessened; of a fire: not burning vigorously, fitful; also, with inf., of a bow: ineffective (for shooting arrows with); (b) of a medicament, medicinal plant, etc.: lacking in potency or effect, mild; also, of the strength of an herb: relatively weak; (c) of food: not highly nourishing or fattening;—used iron.; (d) of faulty manufacture, badly made or processed; also, comp. as noun: a drink of inferior quality; (e) of the earth: inadequate for the provision of human sustenance.

In surnames.