enfeeble, v.
(ɛnˈfiːb(ə)l)
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. |