infirm
pronunciation
How to pronounce infirm in British English: UK [ɪnˈfɜ:m]
How to pronounce infirm in American English: US [ɪnˈfɜrm]
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- Adjective:
- confined to bed (by illness)
- lacking physical strength or vitality
- lacking firmness of will or character or purpose
- weak and feeble
Word Origin
- infirm (adj.)
- late 14c., "weak, unsound" (of things), from Latin infirmus "weak, frail, feeble" (figuratively "superstitious, pusillanimous, inconstant"), from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + firmus (see firm (adj.)). Of persons, "not strong, unhealthy," first recorded c. 1600. As a noun from 1711.
Antonym
Example
- 1. Care for the elderly and infirm .
- 2. Support for the aged and infirm .
- 3. For he healed the sick and the infirm .
- 4. Infirm , feeble , and often senile .
- 5. Peter is so infirm of purpose that it is useless to ask him for advice .