imbēcillĭtas (inb-), ātis, f. [imbecillus], weakness, feebleness (class.; cf. infirmitas).
- I. Of the body: Tulliae meae morbus et imbecillitas corporis me exanimat. Cic. Att. 11, 6, 4: virium (with infirmitas laterum), id. Brut. 55, 202: valetudinis, id. Fam. 7, 1, 5: Niciae nostri (with mollitia), id. Att. 12, 26, 2; Suet. Gramm. 14; with senium, id. Calig. 44: imbecillitate Augusti nuntiata, i. e. indisposition, id. Tib. 11: qui suae imbecillitati sanitatis appellationem, quae est maxime contraria, optendant, Quint. 12, 10, 15: materiae, Caes. B. C. 2, 15, 2.
- B. Transf., of condition as regards ability, powerlessness, impotency, helplessness, imbecility: utrum propter imbecillitatem atque inopiam desiderata sit amicitia, Cic. Lael. 8, 26; 9, 29; 32; id. Rep. 1, 25, 39; 3, 14; cf.: humani generis imbecillitatem fragilitatemque extimescere, id. Tusc. 5, 1, 3.
- II. Of the mind: animi, Caes. B. G. 7, 77, 9: ingenii, Plin. Ep. 4, 18, 1: consilii, Cic. Off. 1, 32, 117: magistratuum, id. Fam. 1, 4, 3: fallit plerumque, quod probitas vocatur, quae est imbecillitas, Quint. 6, 4, 12: neque illos imbecillitatis damnandos, Tac. A. 4, 8.