foible
/ˈfɔɪbəl/ noun, adjective
Forms foibles
- noun (chiefly in the plural) A quirk, idiosyncrasy, frailty, or mannerism; an unusual habit that is slightly strange or silly. “Try to look past his foibles and see the friendly fellow underneath.”
- noun A weakness or failing of character.
- noun (fencing) Part of a sword between the middle and the point, weaker than the forte.
- adjective (obsolete) Weak; feeble.
Synonyms
Etymology
1640–50, from Early Modern French foible (“feeble”) (contemporary French faible). Doublet of feeble.
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Weak; feeble. [Obs.] Lord Herbert.
- 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. [Written also faible.]
Etymology [OF. foible. See Feeble.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “foible”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details