Enfeeble

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈfiːbəl/

Definitions

1. To make physically or mentally weak; to reduce in strength or vigor
2. To diminish the strength or vitality of someone or something
3. to impair physical or mental capacity as well as lessen overall effectiveness

Etymology: "Enfeeble" is a simple case of an English word built from an older French verb. Its root is "feeble," which came into English from Old French "feble," itself descended from Latin "flebilis," meaning "lamentable" or "deserving of tears," from Latin "flere," "to weep." Over time "feeble" shifted from pitiful to simply weak. The prefix "en-" was added to make a verb meaning "to make feeble." The prefix and verb came into English through Middle English "enfeblen," borrowed from Old French "enfeblir," which was formed by adding the French verbal prefix "en-" to the adjective "feble." In other words, English speakers inherited a French verb that was itself a fresh construction on an existing French adjective. The pattern is the same as "enlarge" or "enrich," where "en-" turns a quality into an action.

Synonyms: weaken, debilitate, impair, fatigue, attenuate

Antonyms: strengthen, invigorate, fortify, empower, energize