English Dictionary

FEEBLY

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IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does feebly mean? 

FEEBLY (adverb)
  The adverb FEEBLY has 2 senses:

1. in a faint and feeble mannerplay

2. in a halting and feeble mannerplay

  Familiarity information: FEEBLY used as an adverb is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


FEEBLY (adverb)


Sense 1

Meaning:

In a faint and feeble manner

Context example:

the lighthouse, flashing feebly against the sleet-blurred, rocky backdrop of the coast of north west Norway

Pertainym:

feeble (lacking strength or vigor)


Sense 2

Meaning:

In a halting and feeble manner

Context example:

reform, in fact, is, rather feebly, on the win

Pertainym:

feeble (pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness)


 Context examples 


“What shall you do with him?” said Mr. Dick, feebly, scratching his head.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

And when the club or whip fell upon them, the spark fluttered feebly up, and they tottered to their feet and staggered on.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

"I can't help it," Mr. Morse said feebly, "but I still believe you incline that way."

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

This man, he began, nodding feebly at the corpse —O'Brien were his name, a rank Irelander—this man and me got the canvas on her, meaning for to sail her back.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I tasted what they offered me: feebly at first, eagerly soon.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Slowly, while the wolf struggled feebly and the hand clutched feebly, the other hand crept across to a grip.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

At last Jane began, and though the first bars were feebly given, the powers of the instrument were gradually done full justice to.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

But the porcupine, squealing and grunting, with disrupted anatomy trying feebly to roll up into its ball-protection, flicked out its tail again, and again the big cat squalled with hurt and astonishment.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Dully and far off I heard the crack of a rifle and was feebly aware of the shock as I was dropped to the earth, where I lay without sense or motion.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I had noticed this creature at the beginning of the meal, leaning his chest against the edge of the table as if its support was a welcome one, and feebly picking at the food which was placed before him.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"There are too many chiefs and not enough Indians." (English proverb)

"Do not judge your neighbor until you walk two moons in his moccasins." (Native American proverb, Cheyenne)

"With a soft tongue you can even pull a snake out of its nest." (Armenian proverb)

"Where there's a will, there is a way." (Dutch proverb)



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