v. Forms: α. 4 enfebil, 4–5 enfeble, 6 enfeable, -febel, 7– enfeeble. β. 6–7 infeeble. [a. OF. enfebl-ir, f. en- (see EN-1) + feble FEEBLE. Cf. AFFEEBLE.] trans. To make feeble, weaken.
α. a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xxvi. 4. Þei þat angirs me vnskylwysly are sekyd that is enfebild.
1485. Caxton, St. Wenefr., 12. She was enfeblyd with ouermoche payne.
1533. More, Apology, xxvii. Wks. 892/1. They both enfeable and also dishonour the realme.
1600. Hakluyt, Voy. (1810), III. 203. He was enfeebled of abilitie.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 270. Praise … Enfeebles all internal strength of thought.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 20. 142. The [magnetic] action was greatly enfeebled.
1872. Yeats, Growth Comm., 293. England was enfeebled … by the Wars of the Roses.
β. 1576. Fleming, Panoplie Ep., 79. Your owne health … is much infeebled.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, II. 441. With intent to infeeble them for want of water.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 488. So much hath … paine Infeebled me.
