foible, a. and n.
(ˈfɔɪb(ə)l)
[a. Fr. foible, obs. f. of faible; see feeble.]
† A. adj. Weak. Obs.
| 1716 M. Davies Athen. Brit. i. Pref. 53 In case the Spell of English Musical Poetry prove too foible for the Serpentin Venom of that Italick Insect. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl., Foible, a French term, frequently used also in our language..applied to the body of animals, and the parts therof: As, foible reins, foible sight, &c. |
B. n.
1. A weak point; a failing or weakness of character. Cf. feeble n. 3.
| 1673 Dryden Marr. à la Mode iii. i, I fear they have found my foible, and will turn me into ridicule. 1691 Beverley Thous. Years Kingd. Christ 1 The Smaller Foiblees [sic] or Faylures of speech..signifie little in the main Pursuit of Truth. 1742 Fielding J. Andrews Pref. (1815) 7 The accidental consequences of some human frailty or foible. 1852 Thackeray Esmond ii. xiii. A foible of Mr. Holt's..was omniscience. 1883 J. Hawthorne Dust I. 72 It has always been my foible to speak before I look. |
2. Fencing. = feeble n. 4.
| a 1648 Ld. Herbert Life (1764) 46 A Foyle..hath two Parts, one of which he calleth the Fort or strong, and the other the Foyble or weak. 1755 Dict. Arts & Sciences IV. 3073 Fencing-masters divide the sword into..the fort, middle, and foible. 1833 Reg. Instr. Cavalry i. 115 The ‘forte’ ought always to gain the ‘foible’ of the opponent's weapon. 1879 Encycl. Brit. IX. 70 The wrist must be suddenly raised, so as to bring the ‘forte’ of one's sword to the ‘foible’ of the adversary's. |