Foible
/ˈfɔɪbəl/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A quirk, idiosyncrasy, frailty, or mannerism; an unusual habit that is slightly strange or silly. in-plural
"Try to look past his foibles and see the friendly fellow underneath."
- 2 the weaker part of a sword's blade from the forte to the tip wordnet
- 3 A weakness or failing of character.
"Jesus is reverenced as the one man who has lived unspotted by the world, free from human foibles, able to redeem mankind by his example."
- 4 a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual wordnet
- 5 Part of a sword between the middle and the point, weaker than the forte.
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- 6 a minor flaw or shortcoming in character or behavior. wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Weak; feeble. obsolete
"The good Fencing-maſters, in France eſpecially, when they preſent a Foyle or Fleuret to their Scholars, tell him it hath two Parts, one of which he calleth the Fort or ſtrong, and the other the Foyble or weak […]"
Example
More examples"Her tendency to talk too much when she's nervous is a foible I can tolerate."
Etymology
1640–50, from Early Modern French foible (“feeble”) (contemporary French faible). Doublet of feeble.