debility
pronunciation
How to pronounce debility in British English:
UK [dɪˈbɪləti]
How to pronounce debility in American English:
US [dɪˈbɪlɪti]
-
- Noun:
- the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age)
Word Origin
- debility
- debility: [15] Despite the passing similarity, debility has no connection with ability. It comes via Old French debilite from Latin dēbilitās, a derivative of the adjective dēbilis ‘weak’. This was a compound formed from the prefix de- ‘not’ and a second element meaning ‘strong’, represented also in Sanskrit bálam ‘strength’, Greek beltíon ‘better’, and Old Slavic bolij ‘larger’ (ultimate source of bolshevik).
- debility (n.)
- early 15c., from Middle French debilite (Modern French débilité) or directly from Latin debilitatem (nominative debilitas) "a laming, crippling, weakening," from debilis "lame, disabled, crippled," figuratively "weak, helpless," from de- "from, away" (see de-) + -bilis "strength," from PIE root *bel- (see Bolshevik).
Example
- 1. He affected a manner of extreme languor and debility .
- 2. They say I have a nervous debility .
- 3. After her operation she suffered from general debility .
- 4. If we can 't cure some of these late-stage ailments , there 's a prospect of a very long period of debility before death .
- 5. There was general debility , and pain in the legs become excruciating .