anile

[an-ahyl, ey-nahyl]

adjective

1. of or like a foolish, doddering old woman.

anile

/ ˈænaɪl, ˈeɪnaɪl, əˈnɪlɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of or like a feeble old woman

Other Word Forms

• anility noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of anile¹

1645–55; < Latin anīlis pertaining to an old woman, equivalent to an ( us ) old woman + -īlis -ile

Word History and Origins

Origin of anile¹

C17: from Latin anīlis, from anus old woman

Example Sentences

A half anile flickered across the queen's face.

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The object of Zoe's anile affection was a capable man, and justified his rather humiliating elevation by good service to the empire.

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As to their religion, it had the reputation popularly, according to various Fathers, of being an anile superstition, the discovery of old women, a joke, a madness, an infatuation, an absurdity, a fanaticism.

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Such a relief must have come to many readers of Cowper, who would put down his religion as rank fanaticism, and his satire as anile declamation.

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The ladies 246 would not think so,” he added, mournfully wagging his head with anile melancholy.

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Related Words

• battered 
• broken-down 
• creaky 
• dilapidated 
• feeble 
• flimsy 
• frail 
• infirm 
• ramshackle 
• rickety 
• run down 
• seedy 
• shabby