feebly

English

Etymology

From Middle English febly; equivalent to feeble +‎ -ly, euphonically blending -le and -ly due to difficulty of pronouncing *-blely. Compare nimbly, nobly, and Latinate -ably and -ibly.

Adverb

feebly (comparative more feebly, superlative most feebly)

1. In a feeble manner.

References

• “feebly”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• bee fly