imbecile Hear it!

imbecile definition

im·becile (im′bə sil, -səl; Brit, -sēl′, -sīl′)

noun

  1. Obsolete a retarded person mentally equal to a child between three and eight years old
  2. a very foolish or stupid person

Etymology: Fr imbécile < L imbecilis, imbecillus, feeble, weak, prob. < in-, without + baculus, staff (see bacillus): hence “without support”

adjective

very foolish or stupid
also imbecilic im′·becil′·ic (-sil′ik)

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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