Someone with a mental age of 3-7 years. Smarter than an idiot, dumber than a moron. When I got married in Ohio, I had to swear that I wasn't an imbecile in order to get a marriage license.

Im"be*cile (?), a. [L. imbecillis, and imbecillus; of unknown origin: cf. F. imb'ecile.]

Destitute of strength, whether of body or mind; feeble; impotent; esp., mentally wea; feeble-minded; as, hospitals for the imbecile and insane.

Syn. -- Weak; feeble; feeble-minded; idiotic.

 

© Webster 1913.


Im"be*cile, n.

One destitute of strength; esp., one of feeble mind.

 

© Webster 1913.


Im"be*cile, v. t.

To weaken; to make imbecile; as, to imbecile men's courage.

[Obs.]

Jer. Taylor.

 

© Webster 1913.

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