WEAKENING • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Weakening

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/wˈikənɪŋ/ Listen

verb

Weaken v. t. (past & past part. weakened; pres. part. weakening)

To make weak; to lessen the strength of; to deprive of strength; to debilitate; to enfeeble; to enervate; as, to weaken the body or the mind; to weaken the hands of a magistrate; to weaken the force of an objection or an argument. "Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done."

To reduce in quality, strength, or spirit; as, to weaken tea; to weaken any solution or decoction.

Weaken v. i. To become weak or weaker; to lose strength, spirit, or determination; to become less positive or resolute; as, the patient weakened; the witness weakened on cross-examination. "His notion weakens, his discernings are lethargied."

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Etymology of 'Weakening'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Weakening" Quotes from Famous Books

... the close of his speech (Appendix 2), presents an idea, first in general terms, and then in specific terms, thus: "No contrivance can prevent the effect of...distance in weakening government. Seas roll, and months pass, between the order and the execution, and the want of a speedy explanation of a single point is enough to defeat a whole system." Find elsewhere in Burke's speech ...

— The Century Vocabulary Builder • Creever & Bachelor

... he said with a sigh, which had no weakening in it. "But I think we'll make good this time, if only we can get the news of the shipment when it comes along well ahead. Superintendent Jason is in communication with every local police force east, and should get it all right. If we get that, the rest should be easy. Rocky ...

— The Law-Breakers • Ridgwell Cullum

... Paris some years ago produced fascination in the following manner: He would cause the subject to lean on his hands, thus fatiguing the muscles. The excitement produced by the concentrated gaze of a large audience also assisted in weakening the nervous resistance. At last the operator would suddenly call out: "Look at me!" The subject would look up and gaze steadily into the operator's eyes, who would stare steadily back with round, glaring eyes, and in ...

— Complete Hypnotism: Mesmerism, Mind-Reading and Spiritualism • A. Alpheus

... be denied. A drowsy, ineffably languid feeling took possession of the entire assemblage. Here and there a noble head nodded slightly; eyelids fell in the silent war against the god of slumber, only to revive again with painful energy and ever-weakening courage. ...

— Truxton King - A Story of Graustark • George Barr McCutcheon

... opinion of Democracy. He undoubtedly believed profoundly in the mission of his party, as an organization standing above all for popular government and the preservation of the Union. No ordinary circumstances would justify him in weakening the influence or impairing the organization of the Democratic party. Paradoxical as it may seem, his partisanship was dictated by a profound patriotism. He believed the maintenance of the Union to be dependent ...

— Stephen A. Douglas - A Study in American Politics • Allen Johnson

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