weak

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weak

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• weake (obsolete)

From Middle English weyk, wayk, weik, waik, from Old Norse veikr (“weak”), from Proto-Germanic *waikwaz (“weak, yielded, pliant, bendsome”), from Proto-Indo-European *weyk- (“to bend, wind”).

Cognate with Old English wāc (“weak, bendsome”), Saterland Frisian wook (“soft, gentle, tender”), West Frisian weak (“soft”), Dutch week (“soft, weak”), German weich (“weak, soft”), Norwegian veik (“weak”), Swedish vek (“weak, pliant”), Icelandic veikur (“bendsome, weak”). Related to Old English wīcan (“to yield”). Doublet of week and wick.

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “The irregular pattern PIE *k > Proto-Germanic *k is left unexplained”)

• enPR: wēk, IPA^(key): /wiːk/

• Audio (US):

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• Audio:

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• Rhymes: -iːk
• Homophone: week

weak (comparative weaker, superlative weakest)

1. Lacking in force (usually strength) or ability.

   The child was too weak to move the boulder.

   They easily guessed his weak computer password.

   • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     a poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man

   • 1700, Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; , London: Jacob Tonson, , →OCLC:

     weak with hunger, mad with love

   • 2022 October 11, Julia Horowitz, “‘The worst is yet to come’: IMF issues stark recession warning”, in CNN‎:

     The prospects for the global economy as outlined by the IMF are the third weakest since 2001, behind only the 2008 financial crisis and the worst phase of the coronavirus pandemic. Global growth has fallen below 2% just five times since 1970.

2. Unable to sustain a great weight, pressure, or strain.

   a weak timber; a weak rope

3. Unable to withstand temptation, urgency, persuasion, etc.; easily impressed, moved, or overcome; accessible; vulnerable.

   weak resolutions; weak virtue

   • 1703, Nicholas Rowe, The Fair Penitent, act I, scene I:

     Guard thy heart / On this weak side, where most our nature fails.

4. (often with for) Having a strong, irrepressible emotional love for someone or (less often) something; sentimentally affected by such love.
   • 2065 April 23, “I Can't Help Myself”, in Four Tops Second Album, performed by The Four Tops:

     'Cause sugar pie, honey bunch
     You know that I'm weak for you
     Can't help myself
     I love you and nobody else

   • 2006 April 3, “Lips Of An Angel”, in Extreme Behavior, performed by Hinder:

     It’s really good to hear your voice
     Sayin' my name, it sounds so sweet
     Comin' from the lips of an angel
     Hearin' those words, it makes me weak

5. Dilute, lacking in taste or potency.
   • 1918, W B Maxwell, chapter II, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

     That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired.

   We were served stale bread and weak tea.

6. (grammar) Displaying a particular kind of inflection, including:
   1. (Germanic languages, of verbs) Regular in inflection, lacking vowel changes and having a past tense with -d- or -t-.
   2. (Germanic languages, of nouns) Showing less distinct grammatical endings.
   3. (Germanic languages, of adjectives) Definite in meaning, often used with a definite article or similar word.
7. (chemistry) That does not ionize completely into anions and cations in a solution.

   a weak acid;  a weak base

8. (physics) One of the four fundamental forces associated with nuclear decay.
9. (slang) Bad or uncool.

   This place is weak.

10. (mathematics, logic) Having a narrow range of logical consequences; narrowly applicable. (Often contrasted with a strong statement which implies it.)
11. Resulting from, or indicating, lack of judgment, discernment, or firmness; unwise; hence, foolish.
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. , London: ">…] , and are to be sold by Peter Parker ; nd by Robert Boulter ; nd Matthias Walker, , →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: , London: Basil Montagu Pickering , 1873, →OCLC:

      If evil thence ensue, / She first his weak indulgence will accuse.

12. Not having power to convince; not supported by force of reason or truth; unsustained.

    The prosecution advanced a weak case.

    • 1671, John Milton, “The Third Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: J M for John Starkey , →OCLC:

      convinced of his weak arguing

    • 2012, Joseph L. Taylor, Foundations of Analysis, American Mathematical Society, page 114:

      There are two fundamental theorems of calculus. Both relate differentiation to integration. In most calculus courses, the Second Fundamental Theorem is usually proved first and then used to prove the First Fundamental Theorem. Unfortunately, this results in a First Fundamental Theorem that is weaker than it could be.

13. Lacking in vigour or expression.

    a weak sentence; a weak style

    • 2012 December 15, Ann Hornaday, “‘The Hobbit’ Is Long, Feels Even Longer”, in Valley News, volume 61, number 190, page C3, column 4:

      It could turn out that An Unexpected Journey is the weakest of this trilogy, the necessary preamble before less-stultifying action and more engaging character development ensue. But, to paraphrase the sweet and stout-hearted Bilbo himself, this adventure won’t just make you late for dinner. It might make you miss breakfast and lunch, too. Only the most dedicated Middle-earthers will find that the hunger pangs are worth it.

14. Not prevalent or effective, or not felt to be prevalent; not potent; feeble.
    • c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

      Thy threats have no more strength than her weak prayers.

15. (stock exchange) Tending towards lower prices.

    a weak market; wheat is weak at present

16. (photography) Lacking contrast.

    a weak negative

• (lacking in force or ability): feeble, frail, powerless, vincible, assailable, vulnerable
• (lacking in taste or potency): dilute, watery
• See also Thesaurus:weak

• (antonym(s) of “lacking in force or ability”): healthy, powerful, robust, strong, invincible
• (antonym(s) of “lacking in taste or potency”): potent, robust, strong
• (antonym(s) of “chemistry: that does not ionize completely”): strong

• Wake, wake, weka

From Old Frisian wāk, from Proto-West Germanic *waikw.

• IPA^(key): /vɪə̯k/

weak

1. (Clay) soft

• wêk (Wood)

• “weak (I)”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011