Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A minor weakness or failing of character.
- noun The weaker section of a sword blade, from the middle to the tip.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Feeble; weak.
- noun That part of the blade of a sword which is included between the middle and the point. Formerly also
feeble and faible. - noun A special weakness of character; a failing; a weak point; a fault of a not very serious kind.
- noun Synonyms Infirmity, imperfection, defect, fault.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective obsolete Weak; feeble.
- noun A moral weakness; a failing; a weak point; a frailty.
- noun The half of a sword blade or foil blade nearest the point; -- opposed to
forte .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective obsolete
Weak . - noun A
quirk ,idiosyncrasy , ormannerism ; unusualhabit orway (usage is typically plural), that is slightly strange or silly. - noun fencing Part of a sword between the middle and the point, weaker than the
forte . - noun A
weakness or failing ofcharacter .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual
- noun the weaker part of a sword's blade from the forte to the tip
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
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Examples
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When I bring up the latest Palin foible, my GOP co-workers ask me if I am afraid of Palin.
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But I think my only foible is really spending so long in this other world.
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Upon these considerations, he met with a most engaging reception from the entertainer, who was a well-bred man, of some learning, generosity, and taste; but his foible was the desire of being thought the inimitable pattern of all three.
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His foible was his admiration for the poets, and his belief that he could write poetry and was a first-rate critic.
The Pirate of the Mediterranean A Tale of the Sea William Henry Giles Kingston 1847
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Apparently his foible was a fondness for cats; one of them, a superb brindled Persian cat, is a great beauty, and seems a particular favourite.
The Journal of Sir Walter Scott From the Original Manuscript at Abbotsford Walter Scott 1801
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I'm certainly not immune to this kind of foible, and I think any reporter worth the skin he or she occupies would say the same.
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I'm certainly not immune to this kind of foible, and I think any reporter worth the skin he or she occupies would say the same.
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I'm certainly not immune to this kind of foible, and I think any reporter worth the skin he or she occupies would say the same.
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I'm certainly not immune to this kind of foible, and I think any reporter worth the skin he or she occupies would say the same.
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Oddly enough, another word containing the same diphthong is my very favorite: "foible".
cygnoir.net 2009
chained_bear commented on the word foible
In fencing, the weak part of the blade, nearest the tip.
February 6, 2007
sionnach commented on the word foible
Faiblesse oblige.
I've always wanted to write that, and now I have.
February 27, 2009
bilby commented on the word foible
It appEARS you only typed it. Proper written evidence shall be furnished to the Chancellor of Scribery by the close of business today in order to proceed with claim verification.
February 27, 2009
sionnach commented on the word foible
So what's your point, big EARS?
February 27, 2009
bilby commented on the word foible
Holy hyperactive desert fleas, Foxman! Do my EARS look big in this?!
February 27, 2009
dontcry commented on the word foible
Only from an upshot angle.
February 27, 2009