Having the least strength, power, or effectiveness among a group. The superlative form of weak.
From Old English wāc meaning 'pliant, soft, weak' combined with the superlative suffix -est. The root traces back to Proto-Germanic *waikwaz, related to the concept of yielding or bending.
The word 'weakest' often appears in the phrase 'weakest link,' popularized by the game show of the same name, but the concept dates back to maritime chains where failure of the poorest component could sink a ship. Interestingly, in evolutionary biology, targeting the 'weakest' members can actually strengthen the overall population.
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