weaken



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Weaken \Weak"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Weakened; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Weakening.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To make weak; to lessen the strength of; to deprive of
      strength; to debilitate; to enfeeble; to enervate; as, to
      weaken the body or the mind; to weaken the hands of a
      magistrate; to weaken the force of an objection or an
      argument.
      [1913 Webster]

            Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it
            be not done.                          --Neh. vi. 9.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To reduce in quality, strength, or spirit; as, to weaken
      tea; to weaken any solution or decoction.
      [1913 Webster]
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Weaken \Weak"en\, v. i.
   To become weak or weaker; to lose strength, spirit, or
   determination; to become less positive or resolute; as, the
   patient weakened; the witness weakened on cross-examination.
   "His notion weakens, his discernings are lethargied." --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]














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