infirm

C2+ Topic:Time

US /ɪnˈfɜrm/ UK /ɪnˈfɜːm/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
physically weak, especially through age or illness

The home cares for elderly and infirm residents.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · physically weak, especially... frail feeble weak decrepit debilitated ailing

Opposites

robust strong healthy vigorous

Word family

Derived forms infirmlyinfirmity infirmary

Related forms firm infirmary affirm confirm

Etymology

From Latin infirmus ('weak, frail'), from in- ('not') + firmus ('strong, steadfast').

infirmus Latin firmus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Time

External links

# infirm

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈfɜrm/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈfɜːm/

## Meanings
1. physically weak, especially through age or illness

## Examples
- The home cares for elderly and infirm residents.

## Synonyms
- frail
- feeble
- weak
- decrepit
- debilitated
- ailing

## Antonyms
- robust
- strong
- healthy
- vigorous

## Derived Forms
- infirmly
- infirmity
- infirmary

## Related Forms
- firm
- infirmary
- affirm
- confirm

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: infirmus
- Root: firmus

## Etymology
From Latin infirmus ('weak, frail'), from in- ('not') + firmus ('strong, steadfast').

## AI Etymology
Infirm comes from Latin infirmus ('weak, frail'), from in- ('not') + firmus ('strong, steadfast'). The prefix supplies the first semantic turn, while the base carries the lexical core of the word. As an adjective, it carries the sense "physically weak, especially through age or illness", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin infirmus and Latin firmus. Derivative forms include infirmly, infirmity, infirmary; related words include firm, infirmary, affirm, confirm.

## Topics
- Time

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