weakly

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   In a weak way; with little strength or force.

   He smiled weakly and closed his eyes.

2. 2
   adj

   Lacking strength or good health; frail.

   The weakly child often missed school.

From Old English wāclīċe (“weakly”), equivalent to weak + -ly (adjectival suffix); compare Old English wāclīċ (“weak; ignoble; mean”), and Old Norse veikligr (“weakly; sick”); both ultimately from Proto-Germanic *waikalīkaz (“weakly; weak”).

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