I.debil, v. Ritschl, Opusc. Phil. 2, 331), e, adj. de-habilis; cf. Dig. 49, 16, 4, § 12: lit. unmanageable, wanting in flexibility or activity; hence, lame, disabled, crippled, infirm, debilitated, feeble, frail, weak, etc. For syn. cf.: imbecillus, infirmus, invalidus (freq. and class.).
I. Lit.
a. Of personal subjects: “debiles fieri,” Cato R. R. 157, 10: “si gladium imbecillo seni aut debili dederis,” Cic. Sest. 10, 24; cf. id. Phil. 8, 10, 31; Phaedr. 4, 2, 10: “confectus senectute, mancus et membris omnibus captus ac debilis,” Cic. Rab. Perd. 7, 21; cf.: debilis manu, pede, coxa, Maecen. ap. Sen. Ep. 101, 11; ille humero, hic lumbis, hic coxa debilis, * Juv. 10, 227: “plurimis stipendiis debilis miles,” Plin. 7, 28, 29, § 104: “integris debiles implicabantur,” Curt. 4, 16, 11: “amissis remis atque ordine debilis uno Sergestus,” Verg. A. 5, 271: “claudi ac debiles equi,” Liv. 21, 40.—
b. Of inanimate subjects: membra metu, * Ter. Ad. 4, 4, 3; Sen. Contr. 5, 33; cf. “debile fit corpus,” Lucr. 4, 952; 5, 830: “manus,” Ov. M. 12, 106: crus, * Suet. Vesp. 7: “ferrum,” Verg. A. 12, 50: “pennae,” Ov. R. Am. 198: “jugum,” id. Pont. 3, 1, 68: “umbra,” id. Tr. 3, 4, 20.—Poet.: “iter,” i.e. of a wounded man, Stat. Th. 12, 144.
II. Trop., disabled, weak, in mind, character, authority, etc.
a. Of personal subjects: “eos qui restitissent infirmos sine illo (sc. Catilina) ac debiles fore putabam,” Cic. Cat. 3, 2: “qui hac parte animi (sc. memoria) tam debilis esset, ut, etc.,” id. Brut. 61, 219: “ingenio debilior,” Tac. H. 4, 62; cf.: sine animo anima est debilis, Att. ap. Non. 426, 48 (v. 296 Ribbeck).—
b. Of inanimate subjects: “duo corpora esse reipublicae, unum debile, infirmo capite: alterum firmum sine capite,” Cic. Mur. 25, 51: “manca ac debilis praetura,” id. Mil. 9, 25; id. Tusc. 2, 5, 13: “manus, sine quibus trunca esset actio ac debilis,” Quint. 11, 3, 85: inscitia, * Pers. 5, 99.—Comp. v. supra.—Sup. appears not to occur.—* Adv., dēbĭlĭter , infirmly, lamely, feebly: lacrimis lingua debiliter stupet, Pac. ap. Non. 98, 18 (v. 355 Ribbeck).
