imbecility
[im-buh-sil-i-tee]
- an instance or point of weakness; feebleness; incapability.
- stupidity; silliness; absurdity.
- an instance of this.
- Psychology. (no longer in technical use; considered offensive) the state of being an imbecile.
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Origin of imbecility
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
madness, rubbish, nonsense, absurdity, tommyrot, twaddle, craziness, lunacy, bunk, indiscretion, stupidity, poppycock, inanity, claptrap, weakness, insensibility, imprudence, insanity, idiocy, tomfooleryExamples from the Web for imbecility
Contemporary Examples
Condescension can be irritating in its expression of hysteria and imbecility, but that comes with freedom of speech.
Historical Examples
Young Lady, who reads Dickens (wiping away the tear of imbecility).
His awkwardness is fearful, and gives the impression of imbecility.
TheaetetusPlato
Nothing but imbecility or treachery could have controlled his conduct.
Three Years in the Federal CavalryWillard Glazier
We commented adversely upon the imbecility of that telegraphic style.
Heart of DarknessJoseph Conrad
The only thing that at this distance of time strikes me as miraculous is the extent of my imbecility.
Lord JimJoseph Conrad
Word Origin and History for imbecility
n.
early 15c., "physical weakness, feebleness (of a body part), impotence," from Middle French imbécillité and directly from Latin imbecillitatem (nominative imbecillitas) "weakness, feebleness," from imbecillus "weak, feeble," traditionally said to mean "unsupported" (quasi sine baculo), from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + baculum "a stick" (see bacillus). "Weakness in mind" (as opposed to body) was a secondary sense in Latin but was not attested in English until 1620s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper