Meaning of imbecile | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A person with limited mental capacity who can perform tasks and think only like a young child, in medical circles meaning a person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal five- to seven-year-old child.
   obsolete
2. A person with limited mental capacity who can perform tasks and think only like a young child, in medical circles meaning a person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal five- to seven-year-old child
3. A fool, an idiot.
   derogatory
4. A fool, an idiot
5. Destitute of strength, whether of body or mind; feeble; impotent; especially, mentally weak
6. ↑ Walker, John (1791), “Imbecile”, in A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary […] , London: G. G. J. and J. Robinſon […] and T. Cadell, →OCLC, page 289, column 3 of 3

Equivalents

Examples

“It is an offence for a man to have unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman whom he knows to be an idiot or imbecile.”

“VLADIMIR: Because he wouldn't save them. / ESTRAGON: From hell? / VLADIMIR: Imbecile! From death.”

““A rat picked up a drink can and threw it at me?” yelled Mr Big. “A big rat, guv’nor? One of them super-rats?” suggested Thumbs. “It landed on my head, you imbecile!””

CEFR level