Preposition: of

• purpose: This volume's purpose, he explains, is to expose the defect of being ' infirm of purpose ' ( vi ).

Infinitive complement

• travel: Because Hazel is now too infirm to travel Forget me Not would be used, as she has been for the last two years.

Modifies a noun

• wheelchair: Suitability: Children very welcome, pets not allowed, unsuitable for very elderly or infirm, wheelchair inaccessible.

• ward: Durham infirm accommodation wards from the northwest, 2001. © Peter Higginbotham.

• relative: The carer responsibility may be for a child or an elderly or infirm relative.

• resident: Please note: Elderly or infirm residents may have difficulty with this.

• person: If the Hirer's party includes any infirm persons, the Hirer should make relevant enquiries at the time of booking.

• poor: Nevertheless it is not large enough even for the sick and infirm poor.

Modifying Another Word

• mentally: By the visit of 22 May 1991 Mrs M had been transferred to a home for the elderly mentally infirm.

• too: Patients visited at home may not have had scales or been too infirm to use them.

• very: Her old friend, William Robinson, tho very infirm, attended the funeral in a bath chair, at the age of 94.

• so: Whilst elderly, Mrs Ashworth was far from being so infirm that her death could reasonably be ascribed to old age.

• physically: Perhaps those with most to gain are the physically infirm who will be able to transcend their bodily limitations.

Used with adjective complement

• become: Apart from the last two years, when he became infirm, he spent his whole life there, alone since January 1967.