I.want of strength; weakness, feebleness.
I. Lit.: “puerorum,” Cic. de Sen. 10, 33: “summa gracilitas et infirmitas corporis,” id. Fam. 7, 1: oculorum, Plin. Ep. 7, 21: “propter sexus infirmitatem,” Ulp. Fragm. 11, 1: “aetatis,” Paul. Sent. 1, 7, 2. —
2. In partic. (sc. corporis, valetudinis), infirmity, indisposition, sickness: “suspicionem infirmitatis dare,” Suet. Tib. 72: “infirmitate correptus,” Just. 28, 3; Plin. Ep. 10, 6, 1: “infirmitate impeditus,” Dig. 4, 6, 38.—
B. Transf.
1. Of things: “hordeo contra tempestates maxima infirmitas,” Plin. 18, 7, 18, § 78: “aedificii,” Dig. 39, 2, 43: “nimia vini,” Col. 12; 20, 7.—
2. Concr., of the weaker sex, women, Liv. 34, 7 fin.: “infirmitas a robustioribus separanda est,” children, Quint. 2, 2, 14. —
II. Trop.
A. In gen.: “animi,” want of spirit, want of courage, Cic. Rosc. Am. 4, 10: “mentis,” Sen. Ep. 11: “memoriae,” weakness, Dig. 41, 2, 44: necesse est aut infirmitati aut invidiae adsignetur, Caec. in Cic. Fam. 6, 7, 3. —
B. In partic., fickleness, inconstancy: “infirmitatem Gallorum veritus, quod sunt in consiliis capiendis mobiles,” Caes. B. G. 4, 5.
