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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary in·firm ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Latin infirmus, from in- + firmus firm DATE 14th century 1. of poor or deteriorated vitality; especially : feeble from age 2. weak of mind, will, or character : irresolute , vacillating3. not solid or stable : insecure Synonyms: see weak • in·firm·ly adverb English Etymology infirm late 14c., "weak, unsound" (of things), from L. infirmus "weak, frail," from in- "not" + firmus (see firm (adj.)). Of persons, "not strong, unhealthy," first recorded 1605. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 infirm in·firm / in5fE:m; NAmE in5fE:rm / adjective1. ill / sick and weak, especially over a long period or as a result of being old 病弱的；年老体弱的 2. the infirm noun [pl.] people who are weak and ill / sick for a long period 病弱的人；体弱的人: care for the elderly and infirm 对年老体弱者的照顾 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English infirm adj VERBS be | become ADV. mentally, physically Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Edition adj. Function: adjective Synonyms: WEAK 1, decrepit, feeble, flimsy, fragile, frail, unsound, unsubstantial, ||wanky, weakly Antonyms: hale Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged in·firm I. \(ˈ)in|fərm, ənˈf-, -fə̄m, -fəim\ adjective Etymology: Middle English infirme, from Latin infirmus, infirmis, from in- in- (I) + firmus strong, firm — more at firm 1. : not strong or sound physically : of poor or deteriorated vitality especially as a result of age : feeble < infirm body > < support of the poor, the insane, and the infirm — Calvin Coolidge > 2. : weak of mind, will, or character : frail , irresolute , vacillating < infirm judgment > < infirm of purpose: give me the daggers — Shakespeare > 3. : not solid or stable : insecure , precarious < rendered this agreeable assumption … permanently infirm — Berton Roueché > Synonyms: see weak II. \ə̇nˈf-\ transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology: Middle English infirmen, from Latin infirmare, from infirmus infirm 1. obsolete : to make infirm : deprive of strength : weaken 2. a. : to make doubtful or challenge the validity of b. : invalidate < either to confirm or to infirm allegations of fact > • in·firm·able \-məbəl\ adjective |
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