imbecile

== English == === Etymology === Borrowed from Middle French imbécile, from Latin imbēcillus (“weak, feeble”), literally “without a staff”. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɪmbəˈsiːl/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈɪmbəsɪl/, /ˈɪmbəsəl/ (obsolete) IPA(key): /ɪmˈbɛsɪl/ === Noun === imbecile (plural imbeciles) (obsolete) A person with limited mental capacity who can perform tasks and think only like a young child, in medical circles meaning a person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal five- to seven-year-old child. (derogatory) A fool, an idiot. ==== Usage notes ==== In modern times, “imbecile” is often used in jocular insults. ==== Synonyms ==== See also Thesaurus:idiot ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === imbecile (comparative more imbecile, superlative most imbecile) (dated) Destitute of strength, whether of body or mind; feeble; impotent; especially, mentally weak. hospitals for the imbecile and insane ==== References ====