weak: [13] Etymologically, something that is weak is ‘bendable’. The word was borrowed from Old Norse veikr. This was descended from prehistoric Germanic *waikwaz, which also produced German weich and Dutch week ‘soft’. And this in turn was formed from *waikw-, *wikw- ‘give way, yield’, a derivative of the base *wik- ‘bend’, which also produced the witch of English witch hazel [16] (etymologically the hazel with ‘bendy’ branches) and possibly English week.
weak (adj.)
c. 1300, from Old Norse veikr "weak," cognate with Old English wac "weak, pliant, soft," from Proto-Germanic *waikwa- "yield" (cognates: Old Saxon wek, Swedish vek, Middle Dutch weec, Dutch week "weak, soft, tender," Old High German weih "yielding, soft," German weich "soft"), from PIE root *weik- (4) "to bend, wind" (see vicarious).
Sense of "lacking authority" is first recorded early 15c.; that of "lacking moral strength" late 14c. In grammar, denoting a verb inflected by regular syllabic addition rather than by change of the radical vowel, from 1833. Related: Weakly. Weak-kneed "wanting in resolve" is from 1870.
双语例句
1. His hands were too weak to cock his revolver.
他的手没劲儿，扳不动左轮手枪的扳机。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Matt is weak and dependent, but you love him all the same.
马特软弱无能且依赖性强，但我们照样爱他。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Despite some artful editing, the anthology is a weak one.
除了编辑上的一些巧妙之处，这本选集乏善可陈。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Strong winds can turn boats when the tide is weak.
潮水小的时候强风可以让船只改变航向。
来自柯林斯例句
5. The survey claims loan companies prey on weak families already in debt.