Lewis & Short

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imbēcillis (inb-), e, v. imbecillus init.

imbēcillus (inb-), a, um (also im-bēcillis, e, Sen. de Ira, 3, 28, 3; id. de Clem. 2, 6, 3; v. Neue, Formenl. 2, 93 sq.), adj., weak, feeble (class.; cf.: debilis, imbellis).

  1. I. Of the body.
    1. A. Of living beings: cum homo imbecillus a valentissima bestia laniatur, Cic. Fam. 7, 1, 3: multi sunt imbecilli senes … quam fuit imbecillus P. Africani filius! quam tenui aut nulla potius valetudine! id. de Sen. 11, 35: et absentes (amici) assunt et egentes abundant et imbecilli valent, etc., id. Lael. 7, 23: imbecilliores (opp. firmiores), Quint. 5, 10, 49: Marius et valetudine et natura imbecillior, Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 10, 3: nemo e nobis imbecillus fuit, cujus salus ac valetudo non sustentaretur Caesaris cura, indisposed, Vell. 2, 114, 1.
      Subst.: imbecillorum esse aecum misererier, Lucr. 5, 1023.
    2. B. Of things: vox, Quint. 11, 3, 13: frons, id. 12, 5, 4: pulsus venarum (with exigui), Cels. 3, 19: imbecillissimus ac facillimus sanguis, Sen. Ben. 4, 18: accedent anni et tractari mollius aetas Imbecilla volet, Hor. S. 2, 2, 86: nescio quomodo imbecillior est medicina quam morbus, Cic. Att. 10, 14. 2: terra infecunda ad omnia atque imbecilla, Plin. 17, 5, 3, § 35: vina (opp. valida), id. 14, 21, 27, § 134: imbecillissimam materiam esse omne olus, the least nourishing, Cels. 2, 18.
      In a different sense: ovum durum valentissimae materiae est, molle vel sorbile imbecillissimae, very easy of digestion, Cels. 2, 18: simulacra vultus imbecilla ac mortalia sunt: forma mentis aeterna, Tac. Agr. 46: regnum vobis trado firmum, si boni eritis: si mali, imbecillum, Sall. J. 10, 6.
  2. II. Of the mind: qui eam superstitionem imbecilli animi atque anilis putent, Cic. Div. 2, 60, 125: ingenia, Quint. 2, 8, 12; cf.: imbecilliores vel animo vel fortuna, Cic. Lael. 19, 70; id. Rep. 1, 34: motus fortunae, id. Fin. 5, 24, 71: ab imbecillis accusatoribus accusari, id. Q. Fr. 2, 6, 6: suspiciones, Tac. A. 2, 76.
    Subst.: ignavi et imbecilli, Cic. Rep. 1, 32; Sen. Ep. 85.
    Hence, adv.: imbēcillē, weakly, feebly, faintly (very rare; perh. only in the comp.): iis, quae videntur, imbecillius assentiuntur, Cic. Ac. 2, 17, 52: imbecillius horrent dolorem, id. Tusc. 5, 30, 85.