[after Shakespeare: see quot. 1597.] A feeble person who makes great pretence of vigor; also used attrib. or as adj.
[1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., III. ii. 179. Shal…. Francis Feeble. Feeble. Heere sir…. Fal.… I cannot put him to a priuate souldier, that is the Leader of so many thousands. Let that suffice, most Forcible Feeble.]
1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, I. v. When the writer was of opinion he had made a point, you may be sure the hit was in italics, that last resource of the Forcible Feebles.
1850. N. Brit. Rev., XIII. May, 2. He [Aytoun] would purge his book of much offensive matter, if he struck out epithets which are in the bad taste of the forcible-feeble school.
1896. Daily News, 15 June, 6/6. The forcible Feebles who control the destinies … of the Party.
