debilitate

[ dih-bil-i-teyt ]
See synonyms for: debilitatedebilitateddebilitating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),de·bil·i·tat·ed, de·bil·i·tat·ing.
  1. to make weak or feeble; enfeeble: The siege of pneumonia debilitated her completely.

Origin of debilitate

1
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin dēbilitātus (past participle of dēbilitāre ), equivalent to dēbilit-, stem of dēbilis “weak” + -ātus -ate1

Other words for debilitate

Other words from debilitate

  • de·bil·i·tant, noun
  • de·bil·i·ta·tion [dih-bil-i-tey-shuhn], /dɪˌbɪl ɪˈteɪ ʃən/, noun
  • de·bil·i·ta·tive, adjective
  • non·de·bil·i·tat·ing, adjective
  • non·de·bil·i·ta·tive, adjective
  • o·ver·de·bil·i·tate, verb (used with object), o·ver·de·bil·i·tat·ed, o·ver·de·bil·i·tat·ing.
  • un·de·bil·i·tat·ed, adjective
  • un·de·bil·i·tat·ing, adjective
  • un·de·bil·i·ta·tive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for debilitate

debilitate

/ (dɪˈbɪlɪˌteɪt) /


verb
  1. (tr) to make feeble; weaken

Origin of debilitate

1
C16: from Latin dēbilitāre, from dēbilis weak

Derived forms of debilitate

  • debilitation, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012