The process of becoming weaker or making something weaker. Can refer to physical strength, influence, or structural integrity.
Formed from 'weaken' (weak + -en suffix) plus the present participle -ing. The verb 'weaken' emerged in Middle English, following the pattern of other causative verbs formed by adding -en to adjectives.
In materials science, 'weakening' often occurs at stress concentrators - tiny flaws that amplify forces, explaining why a small crack can bring down a massive structure. The term is also used in meteorology to describe hurricanes losing intensity, though they can still be incredibly dangerous.
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