weak English · revision 3996

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=non veikr}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /wiːk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|wayke]], weke,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|non|veikr|t=lacking strength]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) cognate with Old English wāc “weak, pliant, soft”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) which did not survive past late Middle English,^(Barnhart 1988) and with Old Saxon wēk, Dutch week and German weich “soft”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[gem-pro|*waikaz]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from a verb meaning “to yield, give way”,^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) which according to Watkins is from [[ine-pro|*weyk-|alt=*weik-|t=to bend, wind]].^(Etymonline) The New Oxford takes it as Old English wāc reinforced by the Norse word.^(NODE 1998) It is related to [[weaken]], [[week]] and [[wicker]].^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Deficient in bodily strength; exhausted”, and “lacking moral strength”: about 1300 in Etymonline^(Etymonline) and Barnhart, in Havelok the Dane.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of tools, “lacking effectiveness”, and of a combatant, “deficient in fighting power”, it is from the early 14th century,^(Etymonline) and of the voice by the early 14th century.^(Etymonline) “Lacking authority over others” is by the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) as is “fragile, breakable”.^(Etymonline) Of drinks and medicines, “not sufficiently imbued with the usual ingredients”, it is from the 1590s,^(Etymonline) and of a pulse, “faint”, by 1700.^(Etymonline) In grammar a weak verb, inflected by adding a syllable rather than by changing the root vowel, is from 1833, in contrast to strong.^(Etymonline) The chain no stronger than its weakest link is attested by 1846.^(Etymonline) In the Bible translations from Tyndale onward it renders Greek asthenēs.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – lacking strength.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 14th century – of a combatant; of the voice.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 14th century – fragile; lacking authority.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – of drink.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1700 – of a pulse.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1833 – in grammar.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1846 – ''the weakest link''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Lacking physical strength or energy; [[feeble]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Likely to fail under pressure; lacking resistance.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Lacking firmness of character or will.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Lacking the usual strength of ingredients; diluted: ''weak tea''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Lacking skill or ability: ''weak in maths''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Not convincing: ''a weak argument''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # In grammar, of verbs, forming the past tense by adding a suffix.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[weakly]]

+ * [[electroweak]]

+ * [[overweak]]

+ * [[weak-headed]]

+ * [[weak-kneed]]

+ * [[weak-minded]]

+ * [[weak-willed]]

+ * [[weaken]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[weakling]]

+ * [[weakness]]

+ * [[week]]

+ * [[wicker]]

+ * [[vicar]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage distinguishes weak, the most widely applicable term, from feeble, frail, fragile, infirm, decrepit and debilitated.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}