decrepit
pronunciation
How to pronounce decrepit in British English:
UK [dɪˈkrepɪt]
How to pronounce decrepit in American English:
US [dɪˈkrɛpɪt]
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- Adjective:
- worn and broken down by hard use
- lacking physical strength or vitality
Word Origin
- decrepit
- decrepit: [15] The underlying meaning of decrepit is ‘cracked’. It comes from Latin dēcrepitus, an adjective formed (with the intensive prefix dē-) from the past participle of crepāre ‘creak, rattle, crack’ (ultimate source also of English crepitation, crevice, and probably craven).
- decrepit (adj.)
- mid-15c., from Middle French décrépit (15c.), from Latin decrepitus "very old, infirm," from de- "down" (see de-) + *crepitus, past participle of crepare "to crack, break" (see raven).
Example
- 1. The leapfrogging of decrepit state telecoms by profitable mobile telephone companies is one example .
- 2. Laying lines into myanmar , with a large but decrepit network , would add a coveted indian ocean port .
- 3. These dirty , decrepit workhorses and their doctored diesel are responsible for a particularly toxic form of air pollution as well as health problems .
- 4. In a decrepit four-storey office block , vu the khanh runs what he describes as one of the busiest " embassies " in hanoi .
- 5. From what is left , money will have to be found for investment of more than 4.5 billion reais fixing up decrepit , overcrowded terminals .