debole Italian · revision 38239

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1250, Venetian translation of the Pamphilus|origins=la debilis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈde.bo.le/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''debole''' ''m or f'' by sense (plural deboli, superlative debolissimo)^(Wiktionary)

+ The older form [[debile]] is used from Dante to Parini.^(LEI|19, 414)^(Prati 1951) Old northern forms include [[roa-oit|debele]] and [[roa-oit|debel]].^(TLIO)^(LEI|19, 414)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|dēbilis|t=weak; crippled]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) Prati says the word came late and by a literary route, and the LEI places the standard form among the learned ones; only [[rgn|débul]] and a form on Elba continue the Latin word by popular sound change in Italy.^(Prati 1951)^(LEI|19, 414) Nocentini explains the ⟨o⟩ as assimilation to the preceding labial /b/, and Sabatini–Coletti as a Tuscan change of /i/ to a back vowel before /l/ in the middle syllable of a word stressed on the antepenult.^(Nocentini 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ The popular outcome is also [[pro|devol]], and [[ca|endeble]] and [[es|endeble]] come from a derivative.^(REW 1935)^(DEI|1219) The learned word is [[fr|débile]], [[ca|dèbil]] and [[es|débil]].^(Nocentini 2010)^(LEI|19, 414)

+

+ The Latin adjective is formed with [[m|la|dē-|t=without]] on a noun for “strength” not found in Latin.^(Nocentini 2010)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan reconstructs [[itc-pro|*dē-boli-|t=without strength]] and a root [[ine-pro|*bel-|t=strength]], found in [[sa|बल|tr=bála|t=strength]], [[grc|βελτίων|tr=beltíōn|t=better]] and [[cu|болии|tr=bolii|t=bigger, better]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Nocentini 2010) Wiktionary notes an older proposal that links the adjective to [[m|la|dēbeō|t=to owe]], as [[m|la|habilis]] goes with [[m|la|habeō]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in the Venetian translation of the ''Pamphilus'', about 1250, in the sense “lacking strength”.^(TLIO)^(LEI|19, 414) GRADIT dates the word to about 1274, and DELI's first example is in Bono Giamboni, before 1292, who tells how the Spartans gathered young and old and every other weak person (''ogne altra debile persona'') against the enemy.^(GRADIT 2003)^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|4, 57)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense of moral weakness is recorded in Giordano da Pisa in 1303–1306, “faint, dim” of light or sound early in the 14th century, and “unconvincing” of an argument in Bartolomeo da San Concordio before 1347.^(DELI 1999) Francesco da Barberino uses the adjective as a noun for a weak person before 1348.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ The noun ''il debole'', a person's weak side or foible, appears in Lorenzo Magalotti in 1668;^(DELI 1999)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(LEI|19, 414) Sabatini–Coletti and the LEI take it as a calque of [[fr|faible]].^(DELI 1999)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(LEI|19, 414) Tommaseo quotes the saying ''ognuno ha il suo debole'', everyone has a weak spot, and Carducci uses ''debole'' for a fondness for someone in 1898.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(DELI 1999) The noun [[debolezza]] is as old as the adjective (Giamboni, before 1292), and French took it as ''debolesse'' in the 16th century.^(DELI 1999)^(DEI|1219)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1250 – The Venetian ''Pamphilus'' translation uses the word.^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1292 – Bono Giamboni uses ''debile'' and ''debolezza''.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1303–1306 – Giordano da Pisa uses it for moral weakness.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1347 – Bartolomeo da San Concordio uses it for a weak argument.^(DELI 1999)

+ * Before 1348 – Francesco da Barberino uses it as a noun.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1668 – Magalotti uses ''il debole'' for a weak side of character.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1898 – Carducci uses ''debole'' for a fondness.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|weak]], lacking physical strength: ''Dopo la febbre mi sento ancora debole.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # Of an organ or faculty, not working fully: ''Ha la vista debole da anni.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Not sturdy; [[m|en|flimsy]]: ''una mensola troppo debole per tanti libri''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Faint, of low intensity: ''una debole luce dalla finestra''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Unconvincing; of little artistic value.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Lacking firmness, resolve or authority: ''un governo debole''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Poor at a subject (with ''in''): ''È sempre stato debole in chimica.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(linguistics, physics, finance)'' Weak, as in a weak conjugation, the weak interaction or a weak currency.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A weak person; the weak.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A weak point or [[m|en|foible]]; a soft spot for someone or something: ''Ha un debole per i dolci.''^(Wiktionary)^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[debolezza]]

+ * [[debolmente]]

+ * [[indebolire]]

+ * [[indebolimento]]

+ * [[debilitare]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[debile]]

+ * [[la|debilis]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Il sesso debole'' is a traditional, now ironic name for women, and ''il punto debole'' is a weak point.^(Treccani 2011)^(Zingarelli 2010) The opposite is [[forte]].^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}