Weak conjugation(Gram.), the conjugation of weak verbs; — called also new, or regular, conjugation, and distinguished from the old, or irregular, conjugation.Weak declension(Anglo- Saxon Gram.), the declension of weak nouns; also, one of the declensions of adjectives.Weak side, the side or aspect of a person's character or disposition by which he is most easily affected or influenced; weakness; infirmity.Weak soreor ulcer(Med.), a sore covered with pale, flabby, sluggish granulations.

Weak
(Weak) v. t. & i. [Cf. AS. wcan. wacian. See Weak, a.] To make or become weak; to weaken. [R.]

Never to seek weaking variety.
Marston.

Weaken
(Weak"en) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Weakened ; p. pr. & vb. n. Weakening.]

(a) Feeble of mind; wanting discernment; lacking vigor; spiritless; as, a weak king or magistrate.

To think every thing disputable is a proof of a weak mind and captious temper.
Beattie.

Origen was never weak enough to imagine that there were two Gods.
Waterland.

(b) Resulting from, or indicating, lack of judgment, discernment, or firmness; unwise; hence, foolish.

If evil thence ensue,
She first his weak indulgence will accuse.
Milton.

(c) Not having full confidence or conviction; not decided or confirmed; vacillating; wavering.

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
Rom. xiv. 1.

(d) Not able to withstand temptation, urgency, persuasion, etc.; easily impressed, moved, or overcome; accessible; vulnerable; as, weak resolutions; weak virtue.

Guard thy heart
On this weak side, where most our nature fails.
Addison.

(e) Wanting in power to influence or bind; as, weak ties; a weak sense of honor of duty.

(f) Not having power to convince; not supported by force of reason or truth; unsustained; as, a weak argument or case. "Convinced of his weak arguing." Milton.

A case so weak . . . hath much persisted in.
Hooker.

(g) Wanting in point or vigor of expression; as, a weak sentence; a weak style.

(h) Not prevalent or effective, or not felt to be prevalent; not potent; feeble. "Weak prayers." Shak.

(i) Lacking in elements of political strength; not wielding or having authority or energy; deficient in the resources that are essential to a ruler or nation; as, a weak monarch; a weak government or state.

I must make fair weather yet awhile,
Till Henry be more weak, and I more strong.
Shak.

(k) (Stock Exchange) Tending towards lower prices; as, a weak market.

3. (Gram.) (a) Pertaining to, or designating, a verb which forms its preterit (imperfect) and past participle by adding to the present the suffix -ed, -d, or the variant form -t; as in the verbs abash, abashed; abate, abated; deny, denied; feel, felt. See Strong, 19 (a). (b) Pertaining to, or designating, a noun in Anglo- Saxon, etc., the stem of which ends in -n. See Strong, 19 (b).

Weak is often used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, weak-eyed, weak-handed, weak- hearted, weak-minded, weak-spirited, and the like.


  By PanEris using Melati.

Previous chapter/page Back Home Email this Search Discuss Bookmark Next chapter/page
Copyright: All texts on Bibliomania are © Bibliomania.com Ltd, and may not be reproduced in any form without our written permission.
See our FAQ for more details.