Forms: α. 3–5, 4–9 Sc., 9 dial. waik, (6 Sc. waek), 4–6 waike, wayk(e, (4 Sc. vayk, 5–6 Sc. vaik, vaike), 3–6 weik(e, weyk(e, (6 Sc. vaeik, veik). β. 4, 6 wek, 4 weck, 6 wecke; 5–6 weke, 4–7 weeke, 6–7 weake, 6– weak. [a. ON. veik-r, corresponding to OE. wác: see WOKE a.
The earliest known examples are in the Cursor Mundi (a. 1300, but MSS. 14th c.); the word gradually took the place of the corresponding native adj. (OE. wác, ME. WOKE) which did not survive beyond the 15th c. There seems to have been some difference of meaning between OE. wác and ON. veikr; in OE. the primary Teut. sense ‘yielding, not rigid or firm, pliant’ was still prominent, while in ON. it had developed into the sense ‘not strong.’
The β-forms show the same development of Scand. ei to ē which is found in BLEAK a. (earlier bleyke, ON. bleik-r), STEAK sb. (ME. steke, steyke, ON. steik; still pron. dialectally with ī), and REAN, var. of RAIN sb.2 (ON. rein).
In mod. dialect literature the word is often written waik or wake. Graphically, these forms belong to the α group; but in certain areas it may be doubtful whether the shade of pronunciation denoted by the spelling descends from ME. ē or from ME. ei. As the normal Sc. representative of OE. wác is wake, which in late Scottish might have been written waik, it is possible that some of the Sc. examples given below belong etymologically to WOKE a. rather than to the present word.]
A. adj.
† 1. Of a material thing: Pliant, flexible, readily bending. (Usually with implication of want of strength.) = WOKE a. 1. Obs.
The recognition of this sense by Johnson (who has been followed by later Dicts.) is remarkable; his authority has not been identified.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 225. A mantel heng hir faste by, Upon a perche weyke and smalle [Fr. A une perche moult greslete].
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 520/1. Weyke, or lethy, lentus.
14[?]. Sir Beues, 647 (MS. M). All to lethy [MS. O weyke] the spere was wrought.
c. 1480. Henryson, Age & Youth, 13. I … saw ane catyf [Age] … cumand,… walowit & wane, waik as ane wand.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lv. 22. Sum, thocht tham selffis stark, lyk gyandis, Ar now maid waek lyk willing wandis.
1755. Johnson, Weak, 3. Soft; pliant; not stiff. [Whence in later Dicts.]
2. Wanting in moral strength for endurance or resistance; lacking fortitude or courage, strength of purpose or will; unsteadfast, wavering.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VIII. 340. [Thai] dang on thame so hardely That in schort tyme men mycht se by At erd ane hundreth weill, and mar; The remanand the vaykar war.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 7. He, forsoþ, þat is wayke of hert is noȝt in way of curacion.
c. 1450. Capgrave, St. Augustine, xxv. 34. The man was weyk and dred mech þe knyf.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 170. Peple villain and wayke in the faith.
1526. Tindale, Matt. xxvi. 41. The spirite ys willynge but the flesshe is weeke.
c. 1540. R. Morice, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 24. [He] being very moche combered with the concupisscence of the fleshe, and stryvyng gretely to suppresse the same, felt himself to wek to overcom it.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., IV. i. 12. Which are so weake of courage … That they’le take no offence at our abuse.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 532. Here onely weake Against the charm of Beauties powerful glance.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1727), VI. xi. 385. It is the just Shame … of the Frailty of our Condition to consider … how weak we are to intend, and how much weaker to perform.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist., V. 180. But though so furious among themselves, they [turkeys] are weak and cowardly against other animals, though far less powerful than they.
1779. Cowper, Human Frailty, 1. Weak and irresolute is man. Ibid., Olney Hymns, xxix. 12. And Satan trembles, when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees.
1889. W. Armstrong, Wrestling (Badm. Libr.), 224. Outsiders often clamour loudly over these falls, and a weak judge is liable to be influenced.
absol. 1667. Milton, P. L., VI. 909. But list’n not to his Temptations, warne Thy weaker.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 343. He ’stablishes the strong, restores the weak.
1901. W. Adamson, Life Joseph Parker, xxiii. 299. Faith leads to the Rock higher than self, on which the weak can rest in safety.
b. In the translations of the Bible from Tindale onward, used to render Gr. ἀσθενής, ἀσθενῶν, applied by St. Paul (esp. in Rom. xiv. and 1 Cor. viii.) to believers whose scruples, though unsound, should be treated with tenderness, lest they should be led by the example of the more enlightened into acts condemned by their conscience. Hence allusively in weaker brethren (often supposed to be a scriptural phrase), applied to the more timorous members of a party, who are in danger of being shocked by extreme statements of principle or policy.
In the Wycliffite and other early versions the rendering is ‘sick’ [Vulg. infirmus].
1526. Tindale, 1 Cor. viii. 11. But take hede that youre libertie cause nott the weake to faule. Ibid. And so thorow thy knowledge shall the weake brother perisshe for whom christ dyed.
1573. T. C[artwright], Reply to Answ. Whitgift, A iij b. That the setters forwarde of thys cause … giue occasion to the papists of slaundering the religion, and to the weake of offence.
1674. B. Parry, Duppa’s Rules & Helps Devot., I. To Rdr. If Noise and Clamour might pass for Inspiration, the Apostles must go for Weak-Brethren, and mere Novices, compared with our New Lights.
1779. [R. Richardson], Epist., Ded. to Bp. Lond. p. xvii. But recollecting the many Christian Injunctions in Favour of weak Brethren, you thus proceeded with your Charge.
1882. Besant, All Sorts, viii. I do as little as I can … on Sunday, because of the weaker brethren. The Sunday we [sc. Seventh Day Independents] keep as a holiday.
c. of actions, attributes, etc.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 1186. And left to her self, if evil thence ensue, Shee first his weak indulgence will accuse.
1671. Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 391. The Lord Lucas made a fervent bold speech against our prodigality in giving, and the weak looseness of the government.
1800. Coleridge, Piccolom., V. v. 78. Because he had a weak hour and forgot himself.
1819. Shelley, Cenci, V. iii. 22. They must have told some weak and wicked lie To flatter their tormentors.
1878. H. W. Lucy, Diary Two Parl. (1885), I. 365. As he was ex-Minister and a pictorial representative of the bucolic interest, Disraeli, in a weak moment, offered him [Sclater-Booth] office again.
d. Of features, expression of countenance, etc.: Indicating weakness of character or intention.
1877. W. S. Gilbert, Foggerty’s Fairy (1890), 30. The nurse smiled a weak smile, as who should say, ‘Master’s joke is always so amusingly chosen.’
1882. Besant, All Sorts, xxix. His forehead, when the original thatch was thick, must have been rather low and weak.
1897. Kipling, Captains Courageous, x. 227. ‘What have you two men been doing now?’ she said, with a weak little smile.
e. Deficient in power to control emotion; unduly swayed by grief, compassion or affection. Of tears: Indicating weakness.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ., Snuff-Box. But I am as weak as a woman; and I beg the world not to smile, but pity me.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xlv. ‘They are weak tears, for they are useless ones,’ replied the count, drying them.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, i. It’s very weak and silly of me, I know, to be so trembly and shaky from head to foot.
1886. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ By Woman’s Wit, ii. You must have a weak spot in your heart for him, or you would never stand it.
3. Wanting in strength and skill as a combatant; relatively deficient in fighting power as shown by the result of the contest.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 1814. Þer was turn ageynes turn; Þat waykest [of the wrestlers] was, byhoued spurn.
c. 1471. Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 276. Fayne was the waykyer away for to flee.
1481. Caxton, Reynard (Arb.), 102. Yet thought the foxe I haue good auauntage, the clawes of his for feet ben of, and his feet ben yet sore therof … he shal be somwhat the weyker.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., III. ii. 62. Then if Angels fight, Weake men must fall. Ibid. (1602), Ham., V. ii. 273. Your Grace hath laide the oddes a’ th’ weaker side.
b. Deficient as a fighting power in numbers, resources, etc. † Also const. of.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IV. 162. With waik power thai durst him nocht persew.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, i. 55. The folke of the duke were weke and almoste gon. For, of the two hundred that he hadde broughte, he hadde noo moo wyth hym but fourthi.
1574. Southampton Court Leet Rec. (1905), I. 102. The watche of this towne ys neither good nor sufficient but very weak and vnmeet for the preservacon of thys towne.
1592. Soliman & Pers., III. i. 48. Their fleete is weake; Their horse, I deeme them fiftie thousand strong.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., IV. v. 7. And often but attended with weake guard.
1611. W. Adams, Lett., in Rundall, Mem. Japon (Hakl. Soc.), 22. The king’s ships were out seeking vs,… vnderstanding that wee were weake of men.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, V. iii. § 21. 578. He was indeede farre too weake for the Enemie in Horse, both in number and in goodnesse.
1670. Dryden, 1st Pt. Conq. Granada, V. (1672), 53. We are not provided for a siege…. The foe is strong without, we weak within.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, V. xi. Having concluded, from seeing three men engaged, that two of them must be on one side, he … espoused the cause of the weaker party.
1784. Cowper, Task, II. 273. Sham’d as we have been … and in our own sea prov’d Too weak for those decisive blows that once Ensur’d us mast’ry there.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xvii. 54. Each detachment of William’s great army of occupation was weak and isolated.
1912. Eng. Hist. Rev., XXVII. Oct., 662. Their [French] ships, and especially that of Eustace, were encumbered with cargo, they were much weaker in large vessels, and were obliged to make for a certain objective—London.
† c. transf. Weak of friends: having few influential friends. Obs.
1586. T. Morgan, in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1913), Jan., 56, note. Burghley, who was weak of friends in the Privy Council, in Leicester’s absence hath made that Queen to admit of her Privy Council the Archbishop of Canterbury, [etc.].
d. Of a position: Poorly garrisoned.
1650. J. Nicoll, Diary (Bannatyne Club), 25. The Englische Generall, taking this very grevouslie, that such a waik hous sould hald out aganes him, [etc.].
e. Chess-playing. Of a man: Insufficiently protected against capture.
1860. Löwenthal, Morphy’s Games Chess, 57. The K. Kt’s P. and K’s P. are now both of them weak and the cause of much subsequent embarrassment. Ibid., 59. The Pawn … would have been left isolated and weak.
f. Wanting in skill as a performer in a game, sport, athletic exercise, contest, etc. Of play, a move, stroke: Exhibiting want of skill. So, weak place, spot (in a person’s play).
1827. in W. Denison, Sk. Players (1846), 57. In other points England was weak: her fielding was not near so good, her bowling was not equal, [etc.].
1860. Löwenthal, Morphy’s Games Chess, 62. On principle it is weak play, as it leaves a Pawn behind unsupported. Ibid., 98. A weak move.
1862. Baily’s Mag., Sept., 142. But the Surrey bowling was weak, and the men of The North scored 266 in their first innings. Ibid. (1872), Aug., 168. Mr. Grace … gave … a chance at his one weak place, short leg.
1891. Grace, Cricket, ix. 248 (Bowling.) And that brings me to my last point—seek for the weak spot in the batsman’s defence.
1901. Jessop, in Badminton Mag., April, 371. We [Gloucestershire] shall be even a weaker side than usual in the first two months.
4. Of a person, the body, limbs: Deficient in bodily or muscular strength; esp. of a child or woman, inferior in respect of physical strength.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 15033. Þe childer þat war waike To ga þat pres a-mang. Ibid., 23624. Þir [the good] sal be selcut strang and wight, þai [the wicked] sal be weck [MS. Gött. waike] wit-vten might.
c. 1300. Havelok, 1012. Þider komen bothe stronge and wayke.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, xii. 5. I … sett noght by þane stirynge, na mare þan a geaunte dos at þe puttynge of a waik man.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Man of Law’s T., 834. How may this wayke womman han this strengthe Hire to defende agayn this renegat.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. VI. 23. Certes, ich seyde … Ich am to waik to worche with sykel oþer with sythe.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, IV. xx. 144. I am the yongest and moost weykest of yow bothe.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., V. ii. 165. Why are our bodies soft, and weake, and smooth, Vnapt to toyle?
1628. Milton, Vacation Exerc., 1. Hail native Language, that by sinews weak Didst move my first endeavouring tongue to speak.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., IV. v. 190. Divers continue all their life … left-handed, and have but weak and imperfect use of the right.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, XI. 1044. It shall be seen, weak Woman, what you can, When Foot to Foot, you combat with a Man.
1709. Pope, Ess. Crit., 197. That on weak wings, from far, pursues your flights.
1757. Foote, Author, Prol. But as the sluggish animal was weak, They fear’d, if both should mount, his back would break.
1776. A. Smith, W. N., V. i. II. 315. He is a very strong man who by mere strength of body can force two weak ones to obey him.
1821. Shelley, Adonais, xxvii. O gentle child … Why didst thou … with weak hands though mighty heart Dare the unpastured dragon in his den?
b. absol. (Cf. 10 b.)
a. 1300. Cursor M., 832. Þe strang [bigan] þe weker for to sla.
1456. Sir G. Haye, Law Arms (S.T.S.), 257. Oft tymes the starkare … puttis the waykar to the wer. For it is agayne nature that the waykare wan the starkare.
a. 1500. Coventry Corpus Chr. Pl., ii. 447. But the weykist gothe eyuer to the walle.
1535–. [see WALL sb.1 13].
1546. J. Heywood, Prov., II. v. (1867), 56. And where the small with the great, can not agree, The weaker goeth to the potte, we all daie see.
1565. Stapleton, trans. Bede’s Hist. Ch. Eng., 95. Thinking it a light matter to iniury, beguile or vse violence toward our wekers and inferiours.
1579. T. Kendall, Flowers Epigr., Trifles, 5. The weake may stand the strong in sted: a dog may haue a day.
1768. Ross, Helenore, II. 85. The weak wins ay the warr.
c. The weaker vessel [cf. VESSEL sb.1 3], in 1 Pet. iii. 7 said of the wife as compared with the husband; hence occas. used jocularly for ‘the wife’ or female partner. The weaker sex: see SEX sb. 1 c.
1526. Tindale, 1 Pet. iii. 7. Gevynge honoure vnto the wyfe as vnto the weaker vessel [Gr. ὠς ἀσθενεστέρῳ σκεύει].
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., I. i. 276. Iaquenetta (so is the weaker vessell called) which I apprehended with the aforesaid Swaine.
1668. T. St. Serfe, Tarugo’s Wiles, III. 23. B[aker’s] Wife. O! you are a fine man indeed! to leave the Government of the Oven now, when ’tis cramm’d with the English Consulls pastry, to me that’s the weaker vessel.
d. of physical effort.
1783. Crabbe, Village, I. 197. Alternate masters now their slave command, Urge the weak efforts of his feeble hand.
5. Deficient in bodily vigor through age, sickness, privation, etc.; wanting in strength of the vital functions of the body; debilitated.
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 767. Bot als tyte als a man waxes alde, Þan waxes his kynde wayke and calde. Ibid., 6157. Seke I was and in ful wayke state.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, II. 64. Ȝoure owen lymmes … so ffeble and wayke wexe in þe hammes.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XXI. xi. 857. Thyder they came within two dayes for they were wayke & feble to goo.
1519. Knaresb. Wills (Surtees), I. 8. I, John Gill, hole in mynde and wake in stomak, &c., to be buried in Pannall Chyrchyerd.
1524. Reg. Privy Seal Scot., I. 501/1. Patrik … is now of grete aige, febill and waik in his persoun.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 20. Thei hired shippes and putte the lorde Marques in one, which was so weake that he asked where he was.
1599. Dallam, in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.), 81. I was verrie wayke, not able to goo on foute one myle in a daye.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxix. 173. Till (if Nature be strong enough) it break at last the contumacy of the parts obstructed…, or (if Nature be too weak) the Patient dyeth.
1687. Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., I. Tendre, tender,… of a weak constitution.
1780. Selwyn, in Jesse, S. & Contemp. (1844), IV. 363. I am at present in a weaker state of health from a present disorder than I ever was.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, lxiv. You’re too weak to stand, indeed.
1889. ‘J. S. Winter,’ Mrs. Bob, xx. And, as is generally the case after hysteria, she is now very weak and prostrate.
1891. Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, lix. Pomponia sat by the bedside, holding the weak hand.
Similative phrases. 1840. [see RAT sb.1 2 c].
1902. C. N. & A. M. Williamson, Lightning Conductor, 327. Poor Lady B. was as weak as a rag, but … Pa kept her up on a raw egg in wine.
b. Feeble through exhaustion; faint. ? Now chiefly dial.
a. 1707. Prior, Dk. Ormond’s Pict., 10. ’Till weak with Wounds,… He faints.
1849. Lever, Con Cregan, i. I am getting wake; just touch my lips again with the jug.
1880. Antrim & Down Gloss., Weak turn, fainting fit.
1905. Brit. Med. Jrnl., 1 July, 23. He took a ‘weak turn’ and died the following day.
1918. Pall Mall Gaz., 29 June, 8/1. A wound over the eye, which caused the Welshman to go so weak that the referee stopped the contest.
6. Constitutionally feeble; not vigorous or robust in health.
1523–34. Fitzherb., Husb., liii. 50. Of euery sort of shepe, it may fortune there be some, that like not and be weike.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV. (1550), 36. The French kyng had no heire male, but one weake boy.
1602. Shaks., Ham., III. iv. 114. Conceit in weakest bodies, strongest workes.
1772. Priestley, Inst. Relig. (1782), I. 218. Laws to prevent the education of weak children.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist., II. 201. Fontenelle … was naturally of a very weak and delicate habit of body.
1780. Bentham, Introd. Morals & Legisl., vi. (1789), 43. A man may be weak all his life long, without experiencing any disease.
b. of a tree, plant, fruit, etc.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 115. The weakest kinde of fruite Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me.
1696. W. W., New Help to Discourse (ed. 4), 224. Stake and bind up the weakest Plants, against the Winds.
1754. Justice, Scots Gard. Director, 173. If your Artichokes are weak in the Spring, hill them up with rich Earth, and they will recover.
1768. [J. Gibson], Fruit-Gardener, 208. Early pruning is commonly recommended for weak trees.
1892. Katharine Tynan, in Speaker, 3 Sept., 290/1. They [the roses] will deteriorate year after year, returning gradually to wildness, or getting too weak to open leafy buds.
7. Of bodily organs or their functions: Deficient in functional strength (either naturally or by impairment).
The usual collocations are the following: weak eyes, sight; weak stomach, digestion; weak chest, lungs, heart; also (later) weak nerves, which has commonly the loose sense of ‘nervousness,’ liability to be easily agitated.
c. 1480. Henryson, Swallow & other Birds, 19. Hir ene ar waik, the sone scho may not se.
1597. Shaks., Lover’s Compl., 214. The deepe greene Emrald in whose fresh regard, Weake sights their sickly radience do amend. Ibid. (1599), Hen. V., III. ii. 56. Their Villany goes against my weake stomacke, and therefore I must cast it vp.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., VI. 299. My weak and squeazie stomack will hardly digest the wing of a small rabbet.
1661. Boyle, Style of Script. (1675), 27. Batts … are only pleased with (what is alone proportioned to their weak sight) a Twilight.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., VI. § 7. I have naturally weak eyes, and know that there are many things that I cannot see.
1760. Sterne, Tr. Shandy, III. xx. Author’s Pref. With such weak nerves and spirits, and in the condition I am in at present.
1781. Cowper, Truth, 98. Fancy shall apply To your weak sight her telescopic eye.
1822–9. Good’s Study Med. (ed. 3), I. 210. Shell-fishes do not always agree with weak stomachs.
1825. J. Denniston, Leg. Galloway, 94. His amiable lady being a woman of weak nerves.
187[?]. Cassell’s Nat. Hist., I. 184. One of the large Monkeys in the Zoological Gardens had weak teeth, and he used to break open the nuts with a stone.
8. of the mind or mental faculties: Deficient in power.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Anel. & Arc., 341. But me to rede out of this drede or guye Ne may my wit, so weyke is hit, not streche.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 80. But of wyn þat ys takyn abundanly … it makys wayk þe vertuz of þe sawle.
c. 1480. Henryson, Swallow & other Birds, 24. Mannis saule is febill and ouer small, Of vnderstanding waik and imperfite.
1562. Winȝet, Cert. Tractatis, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 27. It apperis to my waik iugement that to attempt sic proude misordour sall [etc.].
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 460. Such shadowes are the weake-brains forgeries. Ibid., 1825. Such childish humor from weake minds proceeds. Ibid. (1597), 2 Hen. IV., II. iv. 273. And such other Gamboll Faculties hee hath, that shew a weake Minde, and an able Body.
1642. J. Taylor (Water P.), Walker the Ironmonger, A 2. This hath past without controlement to … the raysing of strifes … in many people of weake capacities and judgements.
1671. Milton, P. R., II. 221. For Beauty stands In the admiration only of weak minds Led captive.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. xxiii. § 12. 140. We are furnished with Faculties (dull and weak as they are) to discover enough in the Creatures, to lead us to the Knowledge of the Creator.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pic., xcviii. Lord A——m … was a man of weak intellects.
1781. Cowper, Truth, 366. Earth gives too little, giving only bread, To nourish pride, or turn the weakest head.
1798. Ferriar, Illustr. Sterne, etc., 8. Persons of weak understanding.
1857. Buckle, Civiliz., I. vii. 446. No where are the weakest parts of the human mind more clearly seen than in the history of legislation.
1865. H. Kingsley, Hillyars & Burtons, lxi. Her suspicions … were only the product of a weak brain in a morbid state.
1903. [Miss E. Fowler], Betw. Trent & Ancholme, 317. A boy of weak intellect, a Natural.
b. Lacking force of intellect or strength of mind; easily deceived, credulous.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., xiv. Thou (sely) ȝouth, of nature Indegest,… of wit wayke and vnstable.
1660. Jer. Taylor, Ductor, III. iv. 290. And that Priest were … a weak person who should chuse to wear gray, because there is no religion in the colour.
1665. Glanvill, Def. Van. Dogm., 52. If any are so weak to affirm nothing can be demonstrated, against which any thing is or can be objected [etc.].
1736. Butler, Anal., II. viii. Wks. 1874, I. 293. By these means weak men are often deceived by others.
1759. Robertson, Hist. Scot., III. Wks. 1851, I. 217. Though Elizabeth was as much inferior to Mary in beauty and gracefulness of person as she excelled her in political abilities…, she was weak enough to compare herself with the Scottish queen.
1781. Cowper, Conversat., 225. Credulous infancy, or age as weak, Are fittest auditors for such to seek.
1842. Newman, Eccl. Miracles (1843), 127. It can mean nothing else but that St. Gregory did no miracles, and that it is weak, nay, even heathenish, to believe he did.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., viii. II. 295. He … was everywhere received with outward signs of joy and respect, which he was weak enough to consider as proofs that the discontent … had subsided.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, ii. Do you think I should be so weak and stupid as to fall in love with a man … I know nothing about?
absol. 1784. Cowper, Task, II. 566. The weak perhaps are mov’d, but are not taught, While prejudice in men of stronger minds Takes deeper root.
c. Feeble (in one’s intellect, the brain, head, etc.).
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Warwicksh. (1662), 119. Hence was it that the Earl was kept in so strict Restraint, which made him very weak in his Intellectuals.
1831. Scott, Cast. Dang., ii. Shrewd and wise men wax weak in the brain in these troublous times.
1853. Dickens, Bleak Ho., xxi. Until Mr. Smallweed’s grandmother, now living, became weak in her intellect.
9. Inefficient, ill-qualified. a. Of a person’s abilities, productions, qualities, etc. (Often used in modesty or self-disparagement.)
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prioress’ T., 29. My konnyng is so wayk, o blisful queene, For to declare thy grete worthynesse That [etc.].
c. 1450. Holland, Houlate, 37. And I haue mekle matir in metir to gloss … And waike is my eloquence.
c. 1590. J. Stewart, Poems (S.T.S.), II. 6. My vaeik and friuole versis.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., III. i. 37. Card. My Lord of Buckingham, if my weak Oratorie Can from his Mother winne the Duke of Yorke, Anon expect him here.
b. Of a person: Wanting in ability, ill-qualified, unskilled or inefficient in, of or to do (something).
1423. James I., Kingis Q., cxlix. And, sone, of wit or lore Sen thou art wayke and feble.
1564. Becon, Wks., I. Pref. ☞ C iv. When such as are yet weake in knowledge of Christ and of his holy Gospel heare yt [etc.]. Marg., Weakeynges.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. Introd. ii. Helpe then, O holy Virgin chiefe of nine, Thy weaker Nouice to performe thy will.
1653. W. Ramesey, Astrol. Restored, 28. One of the silliest and weakest Students in Astrologie was chosen out of all the other to confute the Doctor.
1780. Cowper, Progr. Err., 15. Weak to perform, though mighty to pretend. Ibid. (1781), Charity, 633. But if, unhappily deceiv’d, I dream, And prove too weak for so divine a theme.
1818. Keats, Endym., III. 938. O ’tis a very sin For one so weak to venture his poor verse in such a place as this.
1831. Sir J. Sinclair, Corr., II. 257. Some weak politicians would startle at the expense it might occasion.
1885. Leeds Mercury, 24 June, 4/4. The new Government will be so lamentably weak in debating power.
transf. 1821. Shelley, Adonais, lii. Rome’s azure sky, Flowers, ruins, statues, music, words, are weak The glory they transfuse with fitting truth to speak.
c. of literary work or composition: Showing little evidence of ability.
1713. Steele, Englishm., No. 20. 132. It is the weakest Part of a very weak Book.
1733. Pope, Hor. Sat., II. i. 5. The lines are weak, another’s pleas’d to say.
10. Wanting in power or authority over others.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., cxlviii. And quhare a persone has tofore knawing Off It that is to fallen purposely, Lo, fortune is bot wayke in suich a thing.
1538. Starkey, England, I. iii. 84. Our cuntrey ys now weke, and no thyng so strong as hyt hath byn in old tyme.
1550. Crowley, Way to Wealth, 265. If the gentlemen and rulars of thy countreie shoulde be to weake for the, he would bring in strainge nations to subdue the.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxx. 182. It is a weak Soveraign, that has weak Subjects; and a weak People, whose Soveraign wanteth Power to rule them at his will.
1761[?]. Goldsm., Misc. Wks. (1837), I. 472. England, therefore, grew weaker, or, what amounts to the same thing, saw her neighbours grow stronger.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xx. IV. 437. Sometimes … no set of men who can be brought together possesses the full confidence and steady support of a majority of the House of Commons. When this is the case, there must be a weak Ministry.
b. absol. (Cf. 4 b.)
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., I. iii. 91. Therein, yee Gods, you make the weake most strong: Therein, yee Gods, you Tyrants doe defeat.
1697. [see STRONG a. 5 b].
1733. Pope, Ess. Man, III. 49. Grant that the pow’rful still the weak controul.
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, IV. iv. The idea of restraining the powerful by the weak is an absurdity.
c. of power, strength, authority, etc.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pars. T., ¶ 311. And moore-ouer contricion destroyeth the prison of helle and maketh wayk and fieble alle the strengthes of the deueles.
1533. Bellenden, Livy (S.T.S.), II. 38. The strenth of every office & power begynnys to be febil and waik in þe lattir parte of þe ȝere.
1570. Satir. Poems Reform., xviii. 47. Thay thocht his deith wald mak thy power waik.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., II. iii. 154. I cannot mend it, I must needes confesse, Because my power is weake.
a. 1656. [see STRONG a. 5 d].
11. a. Card-playing. Of a game, hand, suit: Not of a commanding nature or value. Of a player: Ill-provided with commanding cards (in a specified suit).
1680. Cotton, Gamester (ed. 2), 75 [L’Ombre]. If the Players have but a weak Game, they are to imitate cunning Beast-players in dividing the Tricks.
1742. Hoyle, Whist, 28. Your Adversary on your Right-hand begins with playing the Ace of your weak Suit. Ibid. (1746), (ed. 6), 62. When ought you to make Tricks early? Ans. When you are weak in Trumps.
1864. [see STRONG a. 24].
b. Money-market. Of money or stock: Insufficient to meet a demand or to carry on operations. Similarly of a holder of stock.
1875. Economist, 23 Jan., 95/1. The Bank reserve will continue too weak for the probable demands upon it in the spring. Ibid., 6 March, 289/2. Several of the weaker holders have been forced to dispose of their stocks at a considerable reduction on former rates.
12. Not strong or energetic in action; lacking in force or power. a. of natural agents, etc.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 68. For þat stomake ys lykned to a wayk & feble feer, þat vnnethes may tobrenne rosels and smal chippys.
1585. Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 226/1. Siparum,… a saile wherewith the course or voyage of a ship is holpen, when the wind is weake and faileth.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., IV. v. 100. For my Cloud of Dignitie is held from falling, with so weake a winde, That it will quickly drop.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, II. vii. 97. If the sunnebeames be weake, they draw vp no fogge from the rivers.
a. 1626. [see STRONG a. 13 c].
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 45. ’Tis to be noted that the tides are weakest at the full of the Moon.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 175. A combination of weak magnets … will communicate magnetism in proportion to their accumulated power.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 515. The above list gives them [i.e., external astringents] in order of their efficacy—from the weakest to the strongest.
1907. J. A. Hodges, Elem. Photogr. (ed. 6), 112. Weak sunlight will be found to give the best lighting.
† b. Of food: Not highly nourishing. Obs.
1382. Pol. Poems (Rolls), I. 264. Men may se by thair contynaunce … that thair sustynaunce Simple is and wayke.
1615. Sandys, Trav., 118. Of these [Moors] it is strange to see such a number of broken persons: so being by reason of their strong labour and weake foode.
c. Of the voice: Feeble in enunciation.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 24314. Þir martirs tuin…, quen þai herd crists voice Sa waik þat vnethes most þai here, Come neuer care þair hert sa nere.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem., I. (Arb.), 39. A voice, not softe, weake, piping, womannishe, but audible, stronge, and manlike.
1697. Dryden, Æneis, VI. 666. They rais’d a feeble Cry, with trembling Notes: But the weak Voice deceiv’d their gasping Throats.
1810. Crabbe, Borough, xxii. 324. And ’Come,’ they said, with weak, sad voices, ‘come.’
1873. March. Dufferin, Canad. Jrnl. (1891), 81. The voices of the singers were thin and weak.
1878. Hardy, Ret. Native, V. v. ‘Are you not ashamed of me’ … she asked in a weak whisper.
d. Of the pulse: Having little force.
1700. Dryden, Pal. & Arc., I. 154. Weak was the Pulse, and hardly heav’d the Heart.
1707. Floyer, Physic. Pulse-Watch, 403. A weak Pulse, languid, profund, subtile, slow, indicates a cold Disease.
1876. [see STRONG a. 13 b].
e. Of faith, conviction, affection, passions: Wanting in strength, not intense.
1530. Tindale, Answ. More, Wks. (1573), 267. The fayth that dependeth of an other mans mouth is weake.
c. 1600. Shaks., Sonn., cii. 1. My loue is strengthned, though more weake in seeming.
1732. Pope, Ess. Man, II. 130. Hence diff’rent Passions more or less inflame, As strong or weak, the organs of the frame.
1768. Cowper, Olney Hymns, xviii. 22. Lord, it is my chief complaint That my love is weak and faint.
f. Of words or expressions: Wanting in force, inadequate; implying relatively little fullness of meaning.
1774. Junius Lett., lxiv. (1772), II. 327. If these terms are weak, or ambiguous, in what language can Junius express himself?
1861. Paley, Æschylus (ed. 2), Choeph., 913, note. ‘To waft fate’ is, however, a much weaker term than the other.
g. Of a dose of medicine: Less in quantity (and hence in power) than the normal dose.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 588. Weak doses of thymol, tar, or subacetate of lead.
† h. Of slumber: Light, not deep or heavy. Obs.
1663. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., x. (1687), 56. A weak slumber … chaining up his reason, left only his imagination at liberty to rove about.
i. Of a chance: Slight, slender, small in degree.
1853. Dickens, Bleak Ho., x. Shall I call him down? But it’s a weak chance if he’d come, sir!
j. Of an attack of disease: Not severe or acute.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 586. It [i.e., ‘red gum’] is more probably urticarial or a weak form of prurigo.
13. Wanting in effectiveness.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., V. iii. 27. My ancient Incantations are too weake. Ibid. (1600), Sonn., xxxiv. 11. Th’ offenders sorrow ends but weake reliefe To him that beares the strong offenses crosse.
1667. Milton, P. L., XII. 291. When they see Law can discover sin, but not remove, Save by those shadowie expiations weak, The bloud of Bulls and Goats.
a. 1718. Prior, Engraven on Column, 14. Yet Spires and Towers in Dust shall lye, The weak Efforts of Human Pains.
1721. Pope, Epitaph Hon. S. Harcourt. How vain is Reason, Eloquence how weak! In Pope must tell what Harcourt cannot speak.
1741. C’tess Pomfret, in C’tess Hartford’s Corr. (1805), III. 52. Knowing with what goodness you receive my weak endeavours to amuse you.
1822. Shelley, Chas. I., ii. 292. Strafford. Be these the expedients until time and wisdom Shall frame a settled state of government. Laud. And weak expedients they.
b. Of evidence, argument, etc.: Not convincing. Of a case, title, etc.: Not having strong evidence.
1538. Starkey, England, I. ii. 27. That where as my resonys schal appere to you sklender and weke, wyth your dylygence you may them supply.
1542. Elyot, Dict., Caussa inferior, the lesse right, or weker title.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 18 b. Which is a light and verye weake reason.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., I. i. 134. Henry. I know not what to say, my Titles weake.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., II. v. § 5. I wonder that a cause so weak and feeble hath bene so much persisted in.
c. 1600. Montgomerie, Cherrie & Slae, 1112. Ȝour warrand is but waik.
1630. Milton, On Shaks., 6. Dear son of memory, great heir of Fame, What need’st thou such weak witnes of thy name?
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacræ, III. i. § 8. Hee admits them upon far weaker grounds than wee do attribute them to God.
1686. Tillotson, Serm. at White-Hall, 1 Cor. iii. 15, 18. [An argument] so intolerably weak and sophistical that any considerate man ought to be asham’d to be catch’d by it.
1707. Atterbury, Vind. Doctr. Funeral Serm. Bennet, 4. Pretending to shew, how weak and improper the Proofs are, which their Asserters employ in the defence of them.
1781. Cowper, Conversat., 722. Will they believe, though credulous enough To swallow much upon much weaker proof.
1863. Twistleton, in W. Smith’s Dict. Bible, III. s.v. Zidon, Justin, however, is such a weak authority for any disputed historical fact.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xviii. 188. But the direct evidence for a siege of Oxford is so weak that the tale cannot be relied on.
1904. H. Belloc, Old Road, 119. The first evidence afforded us was weak enough. We saw [etc.].
† 14. Of a thing: Of little account or worth, inconsiderable. Obs.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., V. i. 434. And this weake and idle theame, No more yeelding but a dreame, Gentles, doe not reprehend. Ibid. (1604), Oth., III. iii. 443. O that the Slaue had forty thousand liues; One is too poore, too weake for my reuenge.
1822. Shelley, Chas. I., ii. 207. Strafford. How weak, how short, is life to pay— King. Peace, peace. Thou ow’st me nothing yet.
15. Having less than the full or proper amount of a specific ingredient. Of an infusion: Over-diluted.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. ii. 10. Doth it not shew vildely in me, to desire small Beere? Poin. Why, a Prince should not be so loosely studied, as to remember so weake a Composition.
1676. J. Smith, Art of Painting, vii. 38. You must give it such a quantity of your fat Oyl, that it may not be so weak as to run when you have laid it on, nor so stiff, that it may not work well.
1755. Johnson, Weak.… 6. Not much impregnated with any ingredient: as a weak tincture, weak beer.
1769. J. Skeat, Art of Cookery, Expl. Terms, Cooley; is a white broth or weak gravy.
1791. W. Hamilton, Berthollet’s Dyeing, I. 5. By means of a very weak acid.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 837. To a weak solution of galls, add a few drops of weak solution of sulphate of iron.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, lxiv. A great basin of weak tea.
1891. ‘J. S. Winter,’ Lumley, xv. A little brandy and water, not too weak.
b. spec. of iron.
1841. Greener, Sci. Gunnery, 120. An iron which is technically termed ‘Weak,’ can never be made a strong bodied iron.
1858. Joynson, Metals, 58–9. Pig-iron produced from very siliceous ores are more difficult to puddle than what is called ‘weak’ pig-iron, which contains a high percentage of phosphorus and sulphur.
c. Of corn: ? Having a small proportion of grain to the chaff.
1842. J. Aiton, Domest. Econ. (1857), 205. Let the cows get … a little clover hay, mixed with weak oats, the refuse of what is sent to the mill. Ibid., 252. The horse gets about the fourth part of a peck of oats, with some weak and refuse corn for supper daily.
16. Wanting in material strength, unsound, insecure.
c. 1400. Contin. Brut, ccxxxii. 375. Oþer strong werkes … were so yshake þerewith, þat þey … shol be euermore, the febelere & weyker while þey stonde.
1535–6. in Trans. Shropsh. Archæol. Soc. (18B0), III. 256. This yeare was a maltman slayne in grope lone in Shrewsburie with the fall of a wecke chymney in an old howse there.
1545. Ascham, Toxoph., II. (Arb.), 121. Freates begynne many tymes in a pin, for there the good woode is corrupted, that it muste nedes be weke, and bycause it is weake, therfore it freates.
1612. R. Ch., Olde Thrift newly revived, 69. Where that many fences bee weake … [to] bee strengthened.
1622. J. Taylor (Water P.), Shilling, B 5. And by misfortune if the Caske be weake, Three or foure Gallons in the ground may leake.
1855. Tennyson, Brook, 84. The gate, Half-parted from a weak and scolding hinge, Stuck.
1856. J. C. Morton, Cycl. Agric., I. 840/1. This causes inequality of growth, weak and deficient places in the hedge.
1885. E. P. Hood, World of Proverb, 131. The strength of the chain is in the weakest link.
b. fig. and in fig. context.
1581. N. Burne, Disput., xxv. 111 b. Thairfoir all that quhilk ye grounde vpone this vaik fundament, man fall altogidder.
1595. Shaks., John, V. vii. 78. Returne with me againe To push destruction, and perpetuall shame Out of the weake doore of our fainting Land.
1692. Prior, Ode Imit. Hor., vii. Your mould’ring Monuments in vain ye raise On the weak Basis of the Tyrant’s Praise.
c. Of a fortified place: Not possessed of sound defence (esp. in some part or on a particular side). Also † weak-breach (in quot. fig.).
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), x. 40. Ynentes þe kirk of þe Sepulchre es þe citee maste wayke, for þe grete playne þat es betwene þe citee and þe kirke.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, III. xiii. § 7. The glittering of the armour, and sounding of the trumpets giving such an assault to the weake-breache of his false senses.
1604. Jas. I., Counterbl. to Tobacco (Arb.), 107. He makes his breach and entrie, at some … parts thereof, which hee hath tried and found to bee weakest and least able to resist.
1652. H. Cogan, trans. Scudery’s Ibrahim, Pref., in Villiers’ Rehearsal (Arb.), 30. It is of works of this nature, as of a place of war, where notwithstanding all the care the Engineer hath brought to fortifie it, there is alwayes some weak part found.
1673. Temple, Observ. Netherl., viii. 251. Those Out-works which are either weak of themselves, or not well defensible for want of men.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 597. Bristol had fortifications which, on the north of the Avon … were weak.
quasi-adv. 1720. Ozell, trans. Vertot’s Rom. Rep., II. XIV. 418. Hirtius found out a Place weaker guarded than the rest, which he carried Sword in hand.
d. Weak side [cf. F. côté faible]. (a) Of a fortified place: A side defectively fortified or unsound in its defences. (b) fig.
(a) 1667. Dryden, Secret Love, 1st Prol. iv. Plays are like Towns, which, howe’re fortifi’d By Engineers, have still some weaker side, By the o’reseen Defendant unespy’d.
(b.) 1671. Temple, Surv. Const. Empire, Sueden, etc., Miscell. (1680), 13. Their Application … to trade, has much increast their Shipping and Seamen (which they found to be their weak-side in their last attempts).
1692. L’Estrange, Fables, I. cccxxx. 288. This Dog here would perhaps have Fought for his Master in any Other Case…: But the Love of Mution was his Weak side.
1713. Addison, Cato, I. i. To quell the tyrant Love, and guard thy heart On this weak side, where most our nature fails.
1730. T. Boston, Mem., vii. (1899), 140. Satan soon after got in upon my weak side.
1780. Mirror, No. 92. My friend is a little inclined to take things on their weak side.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, XI. v. ¶ 1. He spared you the trouble of finding out the weak side of that prelate and his principal officers, by discovering their different characters to you.
e. Weak point. (a) Of a thing: The point or feature where it is defective or unsound. (b) (A person’s) weak point, a failing or weakness (moral or intellectual).
(a) 1868. S. Neil, Publ. Meetings, 81. In it [sc. the peroration] the strong points should be enforced, and the weak should be slipped airly over.
1869. Tozer, Highl. Turkey, II. 21. A magnificent view indeed it was…. The weak point in it was that the country on one side was … excluded from view.
1875. [see WEAR v. 15].
1883. A. Sidgwick, Fallacies, 218. To use it as a rough guide in finding the weak point of an argument.
1908. Animal Management (War Office), 180. Every weak point in the fit of a saddle in a squadron should be known.
1920. Times Lit. Suppl., 29 April, 263/3. The weak point of modern capitalism is the opportunity it gives of bad spending.
(b) 1827. Hare, Guesses, I. 183. Do you want to find out a person’s weak points? Observe the failings he has the quickest eye for in others.
1849. C. Brontë, Shirley, xxv. Other people betrayed consciousness of, and annoyance at her weak points.
17. Wanting in solidity or firmness; slight; of a texture easily broken, fragile, frail.
1581 [1582]. T. Norton, in Nicolas, Sir C. Hatton (1847), 235. I desire not to undertake any such work, but do shun it as storms in a broad sea for a weak vessel.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., I. iii. 108. Those that with haste will make a mightie fire, Begin it with weake Strawes.
1680. J. Collins, Plea Irish Cattell, etc., 26. The Hurds,… or Tow, of Flax and Hemp, will serve to make a weaker, or a worser sort of Linnen.
1705. trans. Bosman’s Guinea, 260. Their Eggs are … covered … with a thick Flesh which is pliable and weak.
1756. R. Rogers, Jrnls. (1769), 11. We then attempted to cross the lake, but found the ice too weak.
1817. Shelley, To William Shelley, 2. The billows on the beach are leaping around it, The bark is weak and frail.
1897. Pr. Ranjitsinhji, Jubilee Bk. Cricket, iv. 148. A weak, springy [bat] handle is a mistake. A handle should bend like the butt-end of a good fly-rod and not like an aspen stick.
fig. 1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., Ded. I know not … how the worlde will censure mee for choosing so strong a proppe to support so weake a burthen.
1781. Cowper, Expost., 629. What web too weak to catch a modern brain? Ibid. (1784), Tiroc., 169. How weak the barrier of mere nature proves, Oppos’d against the pleasures nature loves!
18. Not strongly marked. a. Of colors, markings: Not vivid.
1585. Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 177/2. Buxeus,… weake or vnperfect yellow, like box.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., III. ii. 6. This weake impresse of Loue, is as a figure Trenched in ice, which with an houres heate Dissolues to water, and doth loose his forme.
1831. Brewster, Optics, x. 87. In the spectrum of Pollux there were many weak but fixed lines.
1876. Abney, Instr. Photogr. (ed. 3), 100. For a negative of the weak type the bromide may be omitted. Ibid. (1878), Treat. Photogr., xii. 85. Defects in negatives…. A weak image may be due—1, to an unsuitable collodion [etc.].
b. Mining and Geol. (See quot. 1884.)
1833. T. Sopwith, Mining Distr. Alston Moor, 107. Old Carr’s Cross Vein, in Alston Moor, in mining language, is weakest at the north end.
1884. J. A. Phillips, Ore Deposits, 185. In the Alston-Moor district a vein is said to be weak when the strata on either side are but slightly displaced.
c. Of an animal’s scent: Faint.
1854. Surtees, Handley Cr., xxxvii. (1901), II. 6. Pigg lifted his ’ounds, the scent being weak from the water.
19. Comm. Of market prices, the market: Having a downward tendency, not firm. Hence of commodities with regard to their prices.
1856. in Tooke & Newmarch, Hist. Prices (1857), V. 657. In January (’56) the market opened with much firmness at 75 s.…; subsequently the tone became weaker.
1882. Daily News, 23 Aug., 2/7. Prices for wheat, however, were decidedly weaker. Ibid. (1900), 17 Sept., 2/5. Hematite continues to be weak, as was the case at Tuesday’s market.
1903. S. S. Pratt, Work of Wall St., 100. If there are more offers than bids the market is weak and the price declines.
20. Phonetics and Prosody. Of a sound: Pronounced with less force than the adjacent sound or sounds. Of accent, stress: Having relatively little force. Of a syllable, the ending of a verse: Unstressed or without metrical ictus. Of the caesura: Falling after a short syllable.
Weak ending, the occurrence of an unstressed or proclitic monosyllable (a preposition or conjunction) in the normally stressed place at the end of an iambic line. Sometimes distinguished from light ending (e.g., a relative pronoun or auxiliary verb), on which the voice can dwell slightly.
a. 1637. B. Jonson, Engl. Gram., iv. (1640), 43. Before e. and i. it [C] hath a weake sound, and hisseth like s.
1662. Howell, New Engl. Gram., 28. This letter n … hath three degrees of sounds, full in the beginning, weak in the middle, and flat at the end of a word.
1765. J. Elphinston, Princ. Engl. Lang., II. 329. Combinations of two syllables. Iamb, a short and a long, or a weak and a strong.
1774. [W. Mitford], Ess. Harmony Lang., 100. Besides these, feet often occur with the strong accent on both syllables; and frequently one foot, sometimes two in a verse, have the weaker accent only.
1824. T. Martin, Philol. Eng. Gram., 117. When two consonants fall together and will not combine, the weaker is sometimes silent.
1838. E. Guest, Engl. Rhythms, I. 86. The primary accent of the adjective ought always, when not emphatic, to be weaker than that of the substantive.
1852. Proc. Philol. Soc., V. 153. A foot catalectic on the weak syllable.
1857. C. Bathurst, Shaks. Versif., 38. There are several instances of the weak endings.
1871. J. Hadley, Ess. (1873), 273. The effect of a weak r on the preceding short vowel.
1874. B. H. Kennedy, Publ. Sch. Lat. Gram., § 260 (ed. 2), 529. A weak trochaic caesura, after the trochee or second syllable of the dactyl.
1874. J. K. Ingram, in Trans. New Shaks. Soc., II. 447. The former may with convenience be called ‘light endings,’ whilst to the latter may be appropriated the name (hitherto vaguely given to both groups jointly) of ‘weak endings.’
1886. J. B. Mayor, Engl. Metre, 103. Some have maintained that the basis of the metre is a double trochee with a weaker stress on the first syllable and stronger on the third.
21. Philol. In various applications, opposed to strong (see STRONG a. 22). a. Of Teut. nouns and adjs.: Belonging to any of the declensions in which the stem in OTeut. ended in -n. b. Of Teut. verbs: Forming the preterite by the addition of a suffix. c. In Greek grammar, sometimes applied to the sigmatic or ‘first’ aorist, in contradistinction to the ‘second’ or ‘strong’ aorist. d. In Sanskrit grammar, the designation of the reduced stems of nouns, and of the cases in which the reduced stem occurs. e. In Hebrew and Syriac grammar applied to certain consonants (otherwise called ‘feeble’) and to verbs that have one or more of these in the root. f. The designation of the ablaut-grade that results from absence of stress.
a. 1841. [see STRONG a. 22 a].
1885. J. Byrne, Struct. Lang., II. 194. There is also in all the Teutonic languages a weak declension, as Grimm has called it, which has arisen from the insertion of n or an between the stem and the element of case or number.
b. 1841. Latham, Eng. Lang., xviii. 198. Weak Tenses. The Præterite Tense of the Weak Verbs is formed by the addition of d or t.… The Verbs of the Weak Conjugation fall into Three Classes.
1845. Proc. Philol. Soc., II. 50. In the weak perfects of the Teutonic languages … no such difficulty presents itself.
1886. Kington Oliphant, New Engl., I. 228. There is a curious confusion of the Strong and Weak verb in metal moltynnyd.
c. 1875. E. Abbott, Curtius’ Elucid. Student’s Grk. Gram., 104. The sibilant common to both naturally leads from the future to the weak aorist.
1876. Papillon, Man. Comp. Philol., 196. The Weak or Compound Aorist (1 aor.).
d. 1863. Benfey, Sansk. Gram., § 220. 176. There are some nouns which have a strong and a weak form. Ibid., § 238. 198. In the Veda the distinction between the strong and weak cases … is less regularly observed than in the later Sanskrit.
e. 1874. A. B. Davidson, Hebr. Gram., 69. A weak verb is a verb which has one or more of its three stem letters a weak letter. The weak letters are the gutturals, the quiescents, and nun.
1904. J. A. Crichton, Nöldeke’s Syriac Gram., 42. Weak roots vary a good deal in their weak letters. Ibid., 106. A few verbs primae n also take e, as well as a few weak verbs.
f. 1888. Sweet, Hist. Engl. Sounds, § 249. The result was a variety of vowel-series, each with the three stages, strong, medium, and weak.
1891. A. L. Mayhew, O. E. Phonol., § 645. Weak (i. e. Zero) Grades.
1908. Wright, O. E. Gram., § 472. In the athematic verbs the personal endings were added to the bare root, which had the strong grade form of ablaut in the singular, but the weak grade in the dual and plural.
22. Comb. a. In parasynthetic adjs., as weak-backed, -brained, -chined, etc. See also WEAK-HANDED, -HEADED, -HEARTED, -KNEED, -MINDED, -SIGHTED.
1535. Coverdale, Isa. xxviii. 7. They are … *weake braned thorow stronge drynke.
1841. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, xxxiv. It is a foolish fancy on the part of this weak-brained man.
a. 1663. Killigrew, Parson’s Wedd., I. i. (1664), 75. The *weak-chin’d slave hir’d me once to say, I was with Child by him.
1657. J. Sergeant, Schism Dispach’t, 94. This *weak-conscienc’d man.
1645. Waller, To Mistris Braughton, 8. So in those Nations which the Sun adore Some modest Persian, or some *weak-ey’d Moore, No higher dares advance his dazled sight.
1746. Collins, Ode to Evening, iii. Save where the weak-eyed bat With short shrill shriek flits by on leathern wing.
1822. Shelley, Chas. I., ii. 127. And banish weak-eyed Mercy to the weak.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., II. iii. 119. Not able to produce more accusation Then your owne *weake-hindg’d Fancy.
1853. Dickens, Bleak Ho., liii. You’re not one of the *weak-legged ones.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. xii. My Lord Firebrace was but a feeble-minded and *weak-limbed young nobleman.
1802. ‘An English Traveller,’ Sk. Paris, II. lx. 293. These *weak-nerved females, who would have fainted at the sight of a spider mangling a fly.
1835. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Parlour Orator. *Weak-pated dolts they are.
1796. W. H. Marshall, W. Eng., II. 207. A *weaksoiled arable District.
1508. Fisher, Wks. (1876), 253. Those the whiche be basshefull and *weyke spyryted.
1896. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., I. 229. A *weak-walled heart … is much more easily influenced by digitalis than a healthy one.
1885. Graphic, 21 Feb., 174/2. *Weak-willed folk.
1909. G. M. Trevelyan, Garibaldi & the Thousand, iv. 73. The doubtful and weak-willed guide of Europe’s destiny was touched by the undiplomatic sound of truth, purpose, and courage.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Hen. IV., ccxxiv. Soe cutting through a Swarme Of Gnatts, an Eagle scoureing after Prey, Beats downe the *weak-wing’d vermin in her way.
1865. Swinburne, Chastelard, IV. i. 159. These men be *weaker-witted than mere fools When they fall mad once.
b. as adv. with pa. pples., weak-built, made; with pres. pples., weak-growing, -shivering.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 130. Yet euer to obtaine his will resoluing. Though *weake-built hopes perswade him to abstaining.
1656. Cowley, Pindar. Odos, Life and Fame, i. Oh Life … Vain weak-built Isthmus, which dost proudly rise Up betwixt two Eternities.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 705. In *weak-growing sorts, apt to fruit, they should be encouraged with manure.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 1260. Those proud Lords to blame, Make *weak-made women tenants to their shame.
1727–46. Thomson, Summer, 1260. Nor, when cold Winter keens the brightening flood, Would I *weak-shivering linger on the brink.
c. † weak-back, † -wit, one who is weak in the back, in mind; † weak-heart a., = WEAK-HEARTED.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 8. All þinges ar hard to a waik hert man, for þai trow euermore yuellez to be nyȝe to þam.
1656. Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., I. ix. (1674), 11. [Greek] proves hard of digestion to the squeasie stomacks of modern weak-wits.
1659. Cleveland, Vit. Uxoris, xviii. By thee ’tis likely shee’l have none. Whilst thou for weak-back go.
1683. D. A., Art of Converse, 87. And so [we] lose a considerable advantage over our Adversary by not reflecting where the weak of his discourse lies; we think only on’t when the stroke is past.
1692. Sir W. Hope, Fencing Master, 28. Thrust with the Fort of your Sword upon the weak or his.
