imbecile

See also imbécile

English

Etymology

From Latin imbēcillus (“weak, feeble”), literally “without a staff”.

Pronunciation

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Noun

imbecile (plural imbeciles)

1. (obsolete) A person with limited mental capacity who can perform tasks and think only like a young child, in medical circles meaning a person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal five to seven-year-old child.
2. (pejorative) A fool, an idiot.

Usage notes

• In modern times, “imbecile” is often used in jocular insults.

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:idiot

Derived terms

• imbecilic (adjective)
• imbecility (noun)

Translations

person with limited mental capacity

Catalan: imbècil (ca) m. and f. Dutch: imbeciel m. Finnish: imbesilli (fi) French: imbécile (fr) m. and f.

Portuguese: imbecil (pt) m. and f. Romanian: imbecil (ro) Russian: имбецил (ru) (imbetsíl) m. Spanish: imbécil (es)

fool

Catalan: imbècil (ca) m. and f. Dutch: imbeciel m. Finnish: imbesilli (fi) French: imbécile (fr) m. and f.

Japanese: ばか (ja) (Stupid) Portuguese: imbecil (pt) m. and f. Russian: дурак (ru) (durák) m., дура (ru) (dúra) f. Spanish: imbécil (es)