infirmity
part of speech
noun (an infirmity, infirmities; infirmity — uncountable)
meaning for a pupil
1) (formal) An infirmity is a physical or mental weakness or illness, especially one that comes with old age. tree →
2) Infirmity is the state of being weak or ill for a long time. tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: It means bodily weakness or sickness, which a strong spirit can bear. Interpretation: Proverbs teaches that inner courage and hope help people endure illness, while a crushed spirit is much harder to bear. In the primary lessons: A formal or old-fashioned word in history, classic stories and the Bible («the infirmities of age»). Today people more often say «illness», «disability» or «frailty». It tells the reader that a character is weak, ill or very old. Phrases: the infirmities of old age, illness and infirmity.
examples
- The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a broken spirit who can bear? (Writings PRO.18.14, JPS 1917) tree →
- Grandad never complained about the infirmities of old age. tree →
- The old king's infirmity meant his son ruled for him. tree →
- The hospital was built for the sick and those in infirmity. tree →
- Despite her infirmity, she walked to church every Sunday. tree →
- In the Bible, Jesus is described as healing many infirmities. tree →
- The almshouse was for poor people who could no longer work because of infirmity. tree →
- Who else would have borne with my infirmities as thou hast! tree →
note
Formal; a doctor would say illness or condition. The adjective is infirm (weak from age or illness). An infirmary is an old word for a hospital or a sick room in a school. Be respectful: do not use «infirm» as an insult.
In the corpora
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «infirmity» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.