foible

English

WOTD - 11 August 2007    

Etymology

(1640-50) From French faible (“feeble”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈfɔɪbəl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔɪbəl

Adjective

foible (comparative more foible, superlative most foible)

1. (obsolete) weak.

Noun

foible (plural foibles)

1. A quirk, idiosyncrasy, or mannerism; unusual habit or way (usage is typically plural), that is slightly strange or silly.

   Try to look past his foibles and see the friendly fellow underneath.

2. A weakness or failing of character.
3. (fencing) Part of a sword between the middle and the point, weaker than the forte.

Synonyms

• (a weakness or failing of character): fault

Related terms

• feeble

Translations

a quirk, idiosyncrasy, or mannerism; unusual habit or way

Danish: dårskab (da) c., svaghed (da) c., manér (da) c. German: Schwäche (de) f.

Hungarian: hóbort (hu)

a weakness or failing of character

Croatian: slabost (hr) f. Danish: svaghed (da) c. Finnish: heikko (fi), heikko kohta (fi)

German: Schwäche (de) f. Hungarian: gyengeség (hu)

part of a sword

Hungarian: penge gyengéje

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Old French

Adjective

foible m. and f.

1. Alternative form of feble.