labefaction

American

[lab-uh-fak-shuhn] / ˌlæb əˈfæk ʃən /

noun

a shaking or weakening; overthrow or downfall.

labefaction British

/ ˌlæbɪfækˈteɪʃən, ˌlæbɪˈfækʃən /

noun

rare deterioration; weakening

"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

Etymology

Origin of labefaction

1610–20; < Late Latin labefactiōn- (stem of labefactiō ), equivalent to labefact ( us ) (past participle of labefacere to loosen) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Labefaction, lab-e-fak′shun, n. a weakening decay—also Labefactā′tion.—v.t.

From Project Gutenberg

"The Government is confident that the foregoing general ruling will enable junior and inexperienced officers, temporarily employed on famine duty, to classify appropriately and with facility as denticulate or edentulous all individuals afflicted with dental hiatus, mal-conformation and labefaction, without further reference to higher authority."

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023