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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.,
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.
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

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hide References (24 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (24):
    • Cicero, Letters to Atticus, 10.14
    • Cicero, Letters to his brother Quintus, 2.10.3
    • Cicero, Letters to his Friends, 7.1.3
    • Horace, Satires, 2.2.86
    • Tacitus, Annales, 2.76
    • Tacitus, Agricola, 46
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 5.1023
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 17.35
    • A. Cornelius Celsus, De Medicina, 2.18
    • A. Cornelius Celsus, De Medicina, 3.19
    • Seneca, de Beneficiis, 4.18
    • Cicero, De Republica, 1.32
    • Cicero, De Republica, 1.34
    • Cicero, de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, 5.24
    • Cicero, De Amicitia, 19
    • Cicero, De Amicitia, 7
    • Cicero, De Divinatione, 2.60
    • Cicero, Tusculanae Disputationes, 5.30
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 2, 8.12
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 5, 10.49
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 11, 3.13
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 12, 5.4
    • Seneca, Epistulae, 85
    • Sallust, Bellum Iugurthinum, 10
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