Obs. exc. arch. Forms: 3–4 feblesce, 3–5 feblesse, 4 fie-, fyeblesse, 6 feeblesse, 9 feebless. [a. OF. feblesce, foiblece, mod.F. faiblesse, f. feble, foible FEEBLE a.] Feebleness, infirmity; infirm health.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 442. Þe kyng hyre fader was old man, & drou to feblesse.
c. 1315. Shoreham, 18. Ine tokne of febleste [read -esce] of hiis goste.
1340. Ayenb., 33. Zuo þet he ualþ ine fyeblesse and ine zuiche ziknesse.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., IV. ii. 112. Yif so be þat goode be stedfast þan sheweþ þe fieblesse of yuel al openly.
1485. Caxton, Charles the Grete, 81–2. By veray force & for feblesse he fyl to the erthe & there they took hym moche outerageously.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. viii. 37.
| Both for great feeblesse which did oft assay | |
| Faire Amoret that scarcely she could ride. |
1866. J. B. Rose, trans. Ovid’s Fasti, VI. 931.
| Time flits away, years roll on silent wing, | |
| The hours unreined old age and feebless bring. |
