Adjacent Words

Foible definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

FOI'BLE, a. Weak. [Not used.]
FOI'BLE, n. [See Feeble.] A particular moral weakness; a failing. When we speak of a man's foible, in the singular, which is also called his weak side, we refer to a predominant failing. We use also the plural, foibles, to denote moral failings or defects. It is wise in every man to know his own foibles.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to an individual [syn: idiosyncrasy, foible, mannerism]
2: the weaker part of a sword's blade from the forte to the tip

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: obsolete French (now faible), from obsolete foible weak, from Old French feble feeble Date: circa 1648 1. the part of a sword or foil blade between the middle and point 2. a minor flaw or shortcoming in character or behavior ; weakness <admired their teacher despite his foibles> Synonyms: see fault

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a minor weakness or idiosyncrasy. 2 Fencing the part of a sword-blade from the middle to the point. Etymology: F, obs. form of faible (as FEEBLE)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Foible Foi"ble, a. [OF. foible. See Feeble.] Weak; feeble. [Obs.] --Lord Herbert.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Foible Foi"ble, n. 1. A moral weakness; a failing; a weak point; a frailty. A disposition radically noble and generous, clouded and overshadowed by superficial foibles. --De Quincey. 2. The half of a sword blade or foil blade nearest the point; -- opposed to forte. [Written also faible.] Syn: Fault; imperfection; failing; weakness; infirmity; frailty; defect. See Fault.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(foibles) A foible is a habit or characteristic that someone has which is considered rather strange, foolish, or bad but which is also considered unimportant. ...human foibles and weaknesses. = quirk N-COUNT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Frailty, weakness, failing, defect, infirmity, imperfection, fault, weak point, weak side, blind side.

Moby Thesaurus

bad habit, besetting sin, blemish, bug, catch, crack, crotchet, defect, defection, deficiency, drawback, eccentricity, failing, failure, fault, faute, flaw, frailty, hang-up, hole, idiosyncrasy, imperfection, inadequacy, infirmity, kink, little problem, moral flaw, peculiarity, preoccupation, problem, quirk, rift, shortcoming, snag, something missing, taint, vice, vulnerable place, weak link, weak point, weak side, weakness