虚弱
解説 Definition
体が弱っている状態。病気や老齢による身体的な衰弱。
Infirmity means physical weakness, especially caused by age, illness, or a long-term condition. It can also refer to a specific weakness or problem in the body. The word is somewhat formal and often appears in medical or literary contexts.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
firm が「しっかりした・ぐらつかない」なので、infirmity は「体が firm ではない状態」と捉えると残りやすい。語尾 -ity は state を表す名詞化で、active→activity と同じ感覚。infirm は「弱った」、infirmary は「医務室」で同じ語群。単なる一時的な tiredness より、老齢や病気による慢性的な衰え・虚弱を言うことが多く、age and infirmity の形で見えると意味が固まりやすい。
Use firm as your anchor: firm means strong and steady. Infirm means not firm in body, and infirmity is that weak state. It also connects well with infirmary, which helps you remember this is part of a medical word family.
例文
Despite his advancing age and infirmity, he continued to attend every board meeting.
年齢が進み体が弱っているにもかかわらず、彼はすべての取締役会に出席し続けた。
The nursing home provides specialized care for elderly residents suffering from various infirmities.
その介護施設は、様々な身体的衰弱に苦しむ高齢の入居者に専門的なケアを提供している。
Her infirmity prevented her from climbing the stairs, so a ramp was installed.
彼女の身体の弱さのため階段を上れなかったので、スロープが設置された。
infirmity の類義語・関連語
派生語
紛らわしい語
infirmity の語源・成り立ち Etymology
infirmity はラテン語 infirmitas に由来し、in-「否定」+ firm「固い・強い」+ -ity で、もともと「強さがないこと」を表しました。firm や confirm も同根で、体や意志がしっかり立たない感覚から「虚弱」の意味になったと分かります。
Infirmity comes from Latin infirmitas, built from in- meaning "not" and firmus meaning "strong" or "stable." It first meant a lack of strength or firmness. From there, it came to refer to physical weakness and, in some contexts, weakness of character. Related words include firm and confirm.
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