Lacking physical strength, force, or vigor; not able to withstand pressure or force.
From Old Norse 'veikr' meaning 'weak, feeble', related to 'vika' meaning 'to yield'. The word entered English through Viking influence and gradually expanded from physical weakness to metaphorical applications.
Etymologically, 'weak' is related to the word 'week' - both derive from roots meaning 'to bend or yield'. This connection reveals how our ancestors conceptualized weakness as flexibility taken too far, where beneficial adaptability becomes harmful inability to maintain form.
Weakness has been coded as feminine in patriarchal discourse, with women systematically portrayed as physically and intellectually inferior. This gendered framing persists in language linking weakness to femininity and strength to masculinity.
Use descriptively for specific attributes (weak signal, weak immune response) rather than character judgments. Avoid applying weakness judgments along gender lines.
["vulnerable","limited capacity","requiring support"]
Women's historical strength in organizing, caregiving, and resistance work has been erased by weakness narratives; recognize these contributions explicitly.
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