I.weak, feeble (class.; cf.: debilis, imbellis).
I. Of the body.
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.—
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.—
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.
