debole

English

Diagram of fencing swords, indicating deboles on the right

Etymology

From Italian debole, meaning "weak", equivalent to the French 'foible.

Noun

debole (plural deboles)

1. In light swords, such as rapiers and modern weapons in the sport of fencing: that flexible part of the blade nearer the tip, as opposed to the more rigid part nearer the hilt.
   • 2021 Guy Windsor: The Complete Rapier

     There are two parts to the sword: the forte and the debole. The forte begins from the hilt, extending as far as the middle of the blade; and the remainder is called the debole. The forte is for parrying, and the debole for striking. This is really important because: if you always keep your forte in the way of the opponent's debole, you will never be hit.

Italian

Etymology

From Latin debilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈde.bo.le/
• Rhymes: -ebole
• Syllabification: dé‧bo‧le

Adjective

debole (plural deboli, superlative debolissimo)

1. weak, dim, faint

   Synonym: (obsolete) debile

   Antonym: forte

Derived terms

• debolezza
• debolissimo
• debolmente
• deboluccio
• elettrodebole
• indebolire
• interazione debole
• interazione nucleare debole

 

Related terms

• debilità
• debilitare

Noun

debole m or f by sense (plural deboli)

1. weakling

Noun

debole m (plural deboli)

1. weakness
2. soft spot, weakness (for something)

Further reading

• debole in Collins Italian-English Dictionary
• debole in Luciano Canepari, Dizionario di Pronuncia Italiana (DiPI)
• debole in Aldo Gabrielli, Grandi Dizionario Italiano (Hoepli)
• debole in garzantilinguistica.it – Garzanti Linguistica, De Agostini Scuola Spa
• debole in Dizionario Italiano Olivetti, Olivetti Media Communication
• debole in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana

Anagrams

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