The spelling of the word "frailty" is closely related to its pronunciation. The word has two syllables and is pronounced as /ˈfreɪlti/. The first syllable is emphasized, and it sounds like "frah." The second syllable sounds like "tee." The spelling of the word reflects the way it sounds, with "frail" being the root word and the suffix "-ty" added to make it a noun. Frailty refers to the quality of being physically weak or delicate.
Frailty is a noun that refers to the quality or state of being weak, delicate, or vulnerable, especially in physical or moral terms. It is derived from the Old French word "frailte" and the Latin word "fragilitas," both of which mean "fragility" or "weakness."
In the physical sense, frailty describes a lack of strength or endurance, often associated with advanced age or illness. It signifies a state of proneness to physical harm or injury due to a debilitated condition. However, frailty can also encapsulate mental or emotional weakness, such as susceptibility to stress or mental disturbances.
Frailty is not solely confined to physical or mental aspects; it also extends to moral or ethical realms. In this context, frailty indicates a vulnerability to temptation, moral shortcomings, or ethical lapses. It reflects a susceptibility to moral frailties, such as dishonesty, greed, or moral corruption. Additionally, frailty can denote a lack of determination, willpower, or resilience when faced with difficult moral choices or challenges.
Often, the term frailty implies an inherent or natural quality, highlighting the vulnerability or feebleness of an individual, object, or system. It suggests a need for protection, care, or support. Furthermore, frailty can be seen as contrasting with strength, resilience, or robustness, emphasizing the opposite characteristics of these attributes.
A particular fault or sin; a foible; an error.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "frailty" has its origins in Middle English. It can be traced back to the Old French word "frelete" or "frailete", which in turn comes from the Latin word "fragilitas". The Latin term derives from the adjective "fragilis", meaning "fragile" or "easily broken". Eventually, the word "frailty" was adopted into English, retaining a similar meaning of being physically or morally weak, delicate, or easily susceptible to damage or failure.