foible — ozdic

Definitions

noun

1

A quirk, idiosyncrasy, frailty, or mannerism; an unusual habit that is slightly strange or silly.

Try to look past his foibles and see the friendly fellow underneath.

He knew that this was like the sudden impulse of a madman—incongruous even with his habitual foibles.

2

A weakness or failing of character.

Jesus is reverenced as the one man who has lived unspotted by the world, free from human foibles, able to redeem mankind by his example.

3

Part of a sword between the middle and the point, weaker than the forte.

adj

1

Weak; feeble.

The good Fencing-maſters, in France eſpecially, when they preſent a Foyle or Fleuret to their Scholars, tell him it hath two Parts, one of which he calleth the Fort or ſtrong, and the other the Foyble or weak […]

Collocations

2

ADJ.

nervous, smallest

ADV.

almost

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — a behavioral attribute that is distinctive and peculiar to a

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

6

01

Try to look past his foibles and see the friendly fellow underneath.

Wiktionary

02

He knew that this was like the sudden impulse of a madman—incongruous even with his habitual foibles.

Wiktionary

03

Marguerite Blakeney was, above all, a woman, with all a woman’s fascinating foibles, all a woman’s most lovable sins.

Wiktionary

04

The good Fencing-maſters, in France eſpecially, when they preſent a Foyle or Fleuret to their Scholars, tell him it hath two Parts, one of which he calleth the Fort or ſtrong, and the other the Foyble

Wiktionary

05

Her tendency to talk too much when she's nervous is a foible I can tolerate.

Tatoeba · #8976064

06

Well their lives became such an open book that even the smallest foible became magnified almost beyond recognition.

Tatoeba · #12112085

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, foible is marked as obsolete. Watch for register when choosing this word.