infirm

From Middle English infirme, from Latin infirmus (“weak, feeble”).

• IPA^(key): /ɪnˈfɝm/

• Audio (Southern England)

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• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)m

infirm (comparative infirmer, superlative infirmest)

1. Weak or ill, not in good health.

   He was infirm of body but still keen of mind, and though it looked like he couldn't walk across the room, he crushed me in debate.

   • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

     […] Here I stand your slave,
     A poor, infirm, weak, and despis’d old man.

   • 2023 August 30, “Security Advisory For Polling Day”, in Singapore Police Force‎:

     There will be special drop-off points at all polling stations for vehicles conveying voters who are sick, infirm, or disabled.

2. Irresolute; weak of mind or will.
   • c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:

     Infirm of purpose!
     Give me the daggers: […]

   • 1797, Edmund Burke, “Letter III.”, in A Third Letter to a Member of the Present Parliament, on the Proposals for Peace with the Regicide Directory of France, London: […] F[rancis] and C[harles] Rivington, […]; sold also by J[ohn] Hatchard, […], →OCLC, page 30:

     […] vehement passion does not always indicate an infirm judgment.

3. Frail; unstable; insecure.
   • 1692–1717, Robert South, “The Practice of Religion Enforced by Reason”, in Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, 6th edition, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] J[ames] Bettenham, for Jonah Bowyer, […], published 1727, →OCLC, [https:// page 3]:

     He who fixes upon false Principles, treads upon Infirm ground, and so sinks […]

• crank, ill, sick, unwell

• infirmary

infirm (third-person singular simple present infirms, present participle infirming, simple past and past participle infirmed)

1. To contradict, to provide proof that something is not.

   The thought is that you see an episode of observation, experiment, or reasoning as confirming or infirming a hypothesis depending on whether your probability for it increases or decreases during the episode.

• disconfirm

• confirm

• infirmation

• Firmin

• IPA^(key): /inˈfirm/

Borrowed from French infirme, from Latin infirmus.

infirm m or n (feminine singular infirmă, masculine plural infirmi, feminine and neuter plural infirme)

1. crippled

   Synonyms: invalid, schilod, beteag

• infirmitate

infirm m (plural infirmi, feminine equivalent infirmă)

1. cripple, invalid

   Synonyms: invalid, schilod

Inflected form of infirma (“to invalidate”).

infirm

1. first-person singular present indicative/subjunctive of infirma