frail

Noun · Adjective
Synonyms: fallibleimperfectweakdelicatefragile

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. the weight of a frail (basket) full of raisins or figs; between 50 and 75 pounds
  2. a basket for holding dried fruit (especially raisins or figs)

Adjective (3)

  1. physically weak“an invalid's frail body”
  2. wanting in moral strength, courage, or will; having the attributes of man as opposed to e.g. divine beings“I'm only a fallible human”“frail humanity”Synonyms: fallibleimperfectweak
  3. easily broken or damaged or destroyed“a kite too delicate to fly safely”“fragile porcelain plates”“fragile old bones”“a frail craft”Synonyms: delicatefragile
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

frail \frail\, a. [Compar. frailer (fr[=a]l"[~e]r); superl. frailest.] [OE. frele, freile, OF. fraile, frele, F. fr[^e]le, fr. L. fragilis. See Fragile.]

1.Easily broken; fragile; not firm or durable; liable to fail and perish; easily destroyed; not tenacious of life; weak; infirm. [1913 Webster]

That I may know how frail I am.— Ps. xxxix. 4.[1913 Webster]
An old bent man, worn and frail.— Lowell.[1913 Webster]

2.Tender. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Deep indignation and compassion frail.— Spenser.[1913 Webster]

3.Liable to fall from virtue or be led into sin; not strong against temptation; weak in resolution; also, unchaste; -- often applied to fallen women. [1913 Webster]

Man is frail, and prone to evil.— Jer. Taylor.[1913 Webster]
frail \frail\ (fr[=a]l), n. [OE. fraiel, fraile, OF. fraiel, freel, frael, fr. LL. fraellum.] A basket made of rushes, used chiefly for containing figs and raisins. [1913 Webster]

2.The quantity of raisins -- about thirty-two, fifty-six, or seventy-five pounds, -- contained in a frail. [1913 Webster]

3.A rush for weaving baskets. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]

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