flébil

Portuguese

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin flēbilis. Compare English feeble, French faible.

Pronunciation

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈflɛ.biw/ [ˈflɛ.biʊ̯]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈflɛ.bil/ [ˈflɛ.βiɫ]

Adjective

flébil m or f (plural flébeis)

1. tearful
2. fragile, weakened

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈflebil/ [ˈfle.β̞il]
• Rhymes: -ebil
• Syllabification: flé‧bil

Adjective

flébil m or f (masculine and feminine plural flébiles)

1. tearful, weak
   • 1987, Miguel Delibes, Madera de héroe, Barcelona: Ediciones Destino:

     Gervasio no respondió. Había un reto oculto en la carta de papá Telmo. Únicamente un valeroso gesto de su parte podría hacerle cambiar de opinión. Pero ¿dónde habría un gesto que papá Telmo no fuese a considerar una celada? Se apartó de la batayola y se tumbó en el linóleo, los dedos entrelazados bajo la nuca. Estaba enojado. Hasta la flébil situación de Eduardo desmerecía después de leer la nota de su padre.

     Gervasio did not respond. There was a hidden challenge in Papa Telmo's letter. Only a brave gesture on his part could change her mind. But where would there be a gesture that Papa Telmo wouldn't consider a trick? He stepped away from the railing and lay down on the linoleum, his fingers clasped under the back of his head. He was angry. Even Eduardo's weak situation was unworthy after reading his father's note.

Further reading

• “flébil”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10