Etymology
Weaken comes from the Old English word wacian (meaning "to become weak" or "to cause to become weak"). This word is related to the Old Norse word vekja (meaning "to weaken" or "to soften"), which is itself derived from the Proto-Germanic word weakijaną (meaning "to soften" or "to make weak").
Meaning and Origin
The word weaken has been used in the English language since the 12th century. It originally meant "to become weak" or "to cause to become weak," but over time it has come to mean "to make less strong" or "to reduce the strength or effectiveness of something."
The word weaken can be used in a variety of contexts, both literally and figuratively. For example, you could say that someone's muscles have weakened after an injury, or that a storm has weakened as it moves inland. You could also say that an argument has weakened your belief in something, or that a new law has weakened the power of a particular organization.
Examples
Synonyms
Etymology Darken comes from the Old English word deorc meaning dark obscure or evil
Etymology Weaken comes from the Old English word wacian meaning to become weak or to
Damp Etymology The word damp comes from the Middle English word dampen which means
Etymology Old English Softien Proto Germanic Suftjan Proto Indo European Swép ti h
Etymology Middle English breken breken Old English brecan Proto Germanic brekan Pro
Etymology The word dilute comes from the Latin word diluere which means to wash aw
Etymology Latin convulsus past participle of convellere meaning to tear violent
Etymology The word debilitation comes from the Latin word debilis meaning weak fee
Etymology Greek marasmos μαρασμός meaning wasting shrinking Meaning
Etymology Middle English blont blunt Old English blund Proto Germanic blundaz Prot
Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and development of words It traces words
Etymology Middle English shaken from Old English sceacan to move to and fro violentl
