The first thing you need to know is that there is no clear etymological origin of this word, since there are different theories about it. Thus, there are those who defend that it derives from Latin, specifically from “in and clinicus”, those who are committed to determining that it comes from clueco and those who consider that it may come from a Provençal onomatopoeia.
The adjective weak is used to describe someone or something that is fragile, delicate or weak . Something weak lacks strength or robustness .
In addition to those exposed, it is determined that other synonyms of weak are weak, puny, skinny, sickly and even rickety. On the contrary, its antonyms include strong, healthy and robust.
For example: “I don't know if we should cross that bridge: it seems very weak” , “When I was little I was weak, I got sick often and couldn't go to school” , “The deputy tried to convince the journalists with a weak argument” .
Referring to people, the term weak is associated with thinness and lack of energy, vigor or defenses . A 95-year-old man who struggles with age-related ailments can be classified as weak since he hardly has the necessary strength to carry out various activities or to stay healthy.
A young man who is 1.80 meters tall but weighs only 55 kilograms can also be described as weak. Being so thin , you may have trouble moving a heavy object or pushing a car, to name two possibilities.
Throughout the history of literature, characters have been shaped who were considered weak due to their thinness or lack of vigor. Among those is, for example, Don Quixote, who had a particularly slim silhouette, or the cowboy Lucky Lucke.
In other cultural spheres, figures have also stood out precisely for being weak. This would be the case of the famous humorous duo “El gordo y el flaco” or the Spanish actor Eduardo Gómez, known for his roles in television series such as “Here there is no one who lives” and “La que se cerca”.
In the field of animation, we find the character of Shaggy, inseparable friend of the dog Scooby Doo, the one who gives the title to the series of drawings, who also stands out for being very weak.
A weak structure , on the other hand, could collapse at any time because it has no firm supports . Suppose someone builds a shelter with some branches and leaves. It may provide shelter for a short time, but chances are it will end up falling over when the wind blows or it rains. The shelter, in short, is weak, unlike a construction developed with materials such as cement and bricks.
The adjective is also used symbolically. A weak alibi is one that can be easily disproved, while a weak explanation is not useful in convincing other people.