[weak] adj [ME weike, fr. ON veikr; akin to OE wican to yield, Gk eikein to give way, Skt vijate he speeds, flees] (14c) 1: lacking strength: as a: deficient in physical vigor: feeble, debilitated b: not able to sustain or exert much weight, pressure, or strain c: not able to resist external force or withstand attack
2. a: mentally or intellectually deficient b: not firmly decided: vacillating c: resulting from or indicating lack of judgment or discernment d: not able to withstand temptation or persuasion "the spirit is willing but the flesh is ~"
3: not factually grounded or logically presented "a ~ argument"
4. a: not able to function properly b (1): lacking skill or proficiency "tutoring for ~er students" (2): indicative of a lack of skill or aptitude "history was my ~est subject" c: wanting in vigor of expression or effect
5. a: deficient in the usual or required ingredients: dilute "~ coffee" b: lacking normal intensity or potency "~ strain of virus"
6. a: not having or exerting authority or political power "~ government" b: ineffective, impotent 7: of, relating to, or constituting a verb or verb conjugation that in English forms the past tense and past participle by adding the suffix -ed or -d or -t
8. a: bearing the minimal degree of stress occurring in the language "~ syllable" b: having little or no stress and obscured vowel sound "'d is the ~ form of would" 9: tending toward a lower price "a ~ market" 10: ionizing only slightly in solution "~ acids and bases" -- weak.ly adv syn weak, feeble, frail, fragile, infirm, decrepit mean not strong enough to endure strain, pressure, or strenuous effort. weak applies to deficiency or inferiority in strength or power of any sort "students too weak to resist peer pressure". feeble suggests extreme weakness inviting pity or contempt "a feeble attempt to get out of bed". frail implies delicacy and slightness of constitution or structure "a frail teenager who was unable to enjoy contact sports". fragile suggests frailty and brittleness unable to resist rough usage "a reclusive poet too fragile for the rigors of this world". infirm suggests instability, unsoundness, and insecurity due to old age or crippling illness "infirm residents requiring constant care". decrepit implies being worn-out or broken-down from long use or old age "the dowager's faithful, decrepit retainers".