Weakとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

From Middle English weyk, wayk, weik, waik, from Old Norse veikr (“weak”), from Proto-Germanic *waikwaz (“weak, yielded, pliant, bendsome”), from Proto-Indo-European *weyk- (“to bend, wind”).

Cognate with 古期英語 wāc (“weak, bendsome”), Saterland Frisian wook (“soft, gentle, tender”), West Frisian weak (“soft”), Dutch week (“soft, weak”), German weich (“weak, soft”), Norwegian veik (“weak”), Swedish vek (“weak, pliant”), Icelandic veikur (“bendsome, weak”). Related to 古期英語 wīcan (“to yield”). Doublet of week and wick.^[1]

(This etymology is missing または incomplete. Please add to it, または discuss it at the 語源 scriptorium. Particularly: “The irregular pattern PIE *k > Proto-Germanic *k is left unexplained”)

発音

• enPR: wēk, IPA^(key): /wiːk/
• 韻: -iːk
• Homophone: week

形容詞

weak (comparative weaker, superlative weakest)

1. Lacking in force (usually strength) or ability.

   The child was too weak to move the boulder.

   They easily guessed his weak computer password.

   • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

     a poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man

   • 1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:

     weak with hunger, mad with love

2. Unable to sustain a great weight, pressure, or strain.

   a weak timber; a weak rope

3. Unable to withstand temptation, urgency, persuasion, etc.; easily impressed, moved, or overcome; accessible; vulnerable.

   weak resolutions; weak virtue

   • 1703, Nicholas Rowe, The Fair Penitent, act I, scene I:

     Guard thy heart / On this weak side, where most our nature fails.

4. (often with for) Having a strong, irrepressible emotional love for someone or (less often) something; sentimentally affected by such love.
   • 2065 April 23, “I Can't Help Myself”, in Four Tops Second Album, performed by The Four Tops:

     'Cause sugar pie, honey bunch
     You know that I'm weak for you
     Can't help myself
     I love you and nobody else

   • 2006 April 3, “Lips Of An Angel”, in Extreme Behavior, performed by Hinder:

     It’s really good to hear your voice
     Sayin' my name, it sounds so sweet
     Comin' from the lips of an angel
     Hearin' those words, it makes me weak

5. Dilute, lacking in taste or potency.
   • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 2, in The Mirror and the Lamp‎^[1]:

     That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired.

   We were served stale bread and weak tea.

6. (grammar) Displaying a particular kind of inflection, including:
   1. (Germanic languages, of verbs) Regular in inflection, lacking vowel changes and having a past tense with -d- or -t-.
   2. (Germanic languages, of nouns) Showing less distinct grammatical endings.
   3. (Germanic languages, of adjectives) Definite in meaning, often used with a definite article or similar word.
7. (chemistry) That does not ionize completely into anions and cations in a solution.

   a weak acid;  a weak base

8. (physics) One of the four fundamental forces associated with nuclear decay.
9. (slang) Bad or uncool.

   This place is weak.

10. (mathematics, logic) Having a narrow range of logical consequences; narrowly applicable. (Often contrasted with a strong statement which implies it.)
11. Resulting from, or indicating, lack of judgment, discernment, or firmness; unwise; hence, foolish.
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

      If evil thence ensue, / She first his weak indulgence will accuse.

12. Not having power to convince; not supported by force of reason or truth; unsustained.

    The prosecution advanced a weak case.

    • 1671, John Milton, “The Third Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J. M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:

      convinced of his weak arguing

13. Lacking in vigour or expression.

    a weak sentence; a weak style

14. Not prevalent or effective, or not felt to be prevalent; not potent; feeble.
    • c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

      Thy threats have no more strength than her weak prayers.

15. (stock exchange) Tending towards lower prices.

    a weak market; wheat is weak at present

16. (photography) Lacking contrast.

    a weak negative

同意語

• (lacking in force または ability): feeble, frail, powerless, vincible, assailable, vulnerable
• (lacking in taste または potency): dilute, watery
• See also Thesaurus:weak

反意語

• (lacking in force または ability): healthy, powerful, robust, strong, invincible
• (lacking in taste または potency): potent, robust, strong
• (化学: that does not ionize completely): strong

派生語

参照

アナグラム

• Wake, wake, weka