infirm Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite lacking bodily or muscular strength or vitality
    weakly; weak; sapless; feeble; decrepit; rickety; debile.
    • a feeble old woman
    • her body looked sapless
  2. adjective satellite lacking firmness of will or character or purpose; give me the daggers" - Shakespeare
    • infirm of purpose

WordNet


In*firm" adjective
Etymology
L.infirmus: cf.F.infirme. See In- not, and Firm, a.
Definitions
  1. Not firm or sound; weak; feeble; as, an infirm body; an infirm constitution.
    A poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man. Shak.
  2. Weak of mind or will; irresolute; vacillating. "An infirm judgment." Burke.
    Infirm of purpose! Shak.
  3. Not solid or stable; insecure; precarious.
    He who fixes on false principles treads or infirm ground. South.
    Syn. -- Debilitated; sickly; feeble; decrepit; weak; enfeebled; irresolute; vacillating; imbecile.
In*firm" transitive verb
Etymology
L. infirmare : cf. F.infirmer.
Definitions
  1. To weaken; to enfeeble. Obs. Sir W. Raleigh.

Webster 1913