The spelling of the word "weakly" can cause confusion due to its similarity to "weekly". However, they are pronounced differently. The IPA phonetic transcription for "weakly" is /ˈwiːkli/, while the transcription for "weekly" is /ˈwiːkli/. The difference lies in the final consonant sound, with "weakly" pronounced with a clear "k" sound, and "weekly" ending with a softer "k" sound that almost sounds like a "g". Therefore, it's important to pay attention to the final consonant sound when spelling or pronouncing these words.
Weakly is an adjective that describes something as lacking strength, vigor, or power. It refers to a state of being feeble, frail, or easily overcome. It can be used to describe physical, mental, or emotional characteristics or conditions.
In a physical sense, weakly implies a lack of muscular or bodily strength. It suggests that someone or something is not capable of exerting much force or resistance. For example, a weakly person may have low energy levels, struggle to perform physical tasks, or tire easily.
Weakly can also describe mental or cognitive weaknesses. In this context, it suggests a lack of mental sharpness, cognitive abilities, or intellectual strength. For instance, a weakly argument may lack logical coherence or insufficient evidence to support its claims.
Furthermore, weakly can describe emotional vulnerability or a lack of emotional resilience. It suggests a tendency to be easily affected by emotions, susceptible to stress or adversity, and lacking emotional fortitude.
Additionally, weakly can refer to something happening or occurring with a low frequency or consistency. For example, if an event or activity occurs weekly but suddenly becomes less frequent, it can be described as happening weakly.
Overall, weakly describes a state of diminished strength, whether it is physical, mental, emotional, or occurring with low frequency.
• Not strong; not healthy.
• Feebly; faintly.
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 "weakly" is derived from the noun week, which originated from the Old English word wicu or wicū, meaning "a period of seven days". This noun evolved into the Middle English word weke or weak, referring to "the interval between a Sunday and the following Sabbath". Over time, an adverbial form weakly developed, meaning "once a week" or "every week". It is formed by adding the suffix -ly to the noun weak.