The phrase "grew feeble" refers to a decline in physical or mental strength over time. The spelling of "grew" uses the IPA phonetic transcription /ɡruː/, which represents a voiced velar stop followed by a long u sound. The word "feeble" is spelled using the IPA phonetic transcription /ˈfiːbəl/, which consists of a long e sound followed by a voiced bilabial fricative and an unstressed schwa vowel. Together, these words form a common phrase used to describe a gradual weakening of a person's abilities.
"Grew feeble" is an idiomatic phrase that describes a decline or deterioration in physical or mental strength, vitality, or vigor over time. The term "grew" implies a gradual progression, suggesting that the weakening or debilitation happened gradually and might have been imperceptible at first.
The word "feeble" primarily refers to weakness, fragility, or decreased ability to function effectively. It suggests a state of diminished physical or mental power, often due to age, illness, or fatigue. When someone or something "grew feeble," it indicates that they progressively lost strength or vitality, resulting in a diminished capacity to perform tasks, think clearly, or engage in activities they previously possessed the ability to handle.
The phrase "grew feeble" can be used to describe individuals, such as an elderly person experiencing a decline in physical stamina, someone battling a prolonged illness, or a character in a story succumbing to the impacts of prolonged stress or exhaustion. It can also apply to inanimate objects or systems, such as an aging piece of machinery or a failing organizational structure.
Overall, "grew feeble" portrays the process of physical or mental weakening and the eventual debilitation that occurs as strength or effectiveness diminishes gradually over time.
The word "grew feeble" consists of two parts: "grew" and "feeble".
- "Grew" is the past tense of the verb "grow", which ultimately comes from the Old English word "grōwan" meaning "to grow, increase". It has Germanic roots and is related to words in other Germanic languages such as German "wachsen" and Dutch "groeien".
- "Feeble" comes from the Old French word "feble" or "fable", which means "weak" or "delicate". It can be traced back to the Latin word "febilis", derived from "feveri", meaning "to become or make weak".
Therefore, the etymology of "grew feeble" combines the idea of growing or increasing with weakness or fragility.