weakly

Definition

Frail, sickly or of a delicate constitution; weak.

Etymology

From Old English wāclīċe (“weakly”), equivalent to weak + -ly (adjectival suffix); compare Old English wāclīċ (“weak; ignoble; mean”), and Old Norse veikligr (“weakly; sick”); both ultimately from Proto-Germanic *waikalīkaz (“weakly; weak”).

Example Sentences

• "I lay in weakly case and confined to my bed for four months before I was able to rise and health returned to me."
• "I'd always been but weakly, / And my baby was just born; / A neighbour minded her by day, / I minded her till morn."
• ""Oh, a huge crab," Jacob murmured—and begins his journey on weakly legs on the sandy bottom."