feeble-minded

See also: feebleminded

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Anglo-Norman feblebor.

Middle English feble

English feeble

English mind

English -ed

English minded

English feeble-minded

Adjective

feeble-minded (comparative feebler-minded, superlative feeblest-minded)

1. Weak in intellectual power; lacking firmness or constancy; lacking intelligence

   Synonyms: irresolute, vacillating, imbecile

Usage notes

This term was used loosely in the late 19th and the early 20th century to describe a variety of mental deficiencies, often in a medical context (as were cretin, idiot, imbecile and moron). It was originally not meant to be considered a pejorative term. By the mid-20th century, it was no longer used in medical contexts and became considered a pejorative.

Derived terms

• feeb

Related terms

• feeble-mindedly
• feeble-mindedness

Translations

unintelligent

• Dutch: zwak begaafd
• Finnish: heikkomielinen (fi), vähä-älyinen (fi), heikkolahjainen (fi)
• French: faible d’esprit (fr)
• German: schwachsinnig (de)
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: малоуман

  Roman: malouman (sh)

• Spanish: pusilánime (es)
• Swedish: sinnessvag

References

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