Frail
[freɪl] or [frel]
Definition
(noun.) a basket for holding dried fruit (especially raisins or figs).
(noun.) the weight of a frail (basket) full of raisins or figs; between 50 and 75 pounds.
(adj.) physically weak; 'an invalid's frail body' .
Inputed by Glenda--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) A basket made of rushes, used chiefly for containing figs and raisins.
(n.) The quantity of raisins -- about thirty-two, fifty-six, or seventy-five pounds, -- contained in a frail.
(n.) A rush for weaving baskets.
(superl) Easily broken; fragile; not firm or durable; liable to fail and perish; easily destroyed; not tenacious of life; weak; infirm.
(superl) Tender.
(superl) Liable to fall from virtue or be led into sin; not strong against temptation; weak in resolution; also, unchaste; -- often applied to fallen women.
Typist: Norton
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. [1]. Fragile, frangible, BRITTLE, easily broken (across).[2]. Weak, feeble, fragile, INFIRM.[3]. Liable to err, easily led astray, of infirm virtue.
Typist: Vivienne
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:[See FRAGILE], Irresolute, erring, mutable
ANT:Resolute, virtuous, lasting
Edited by Amber
Definition
adj. wanting in strength or firmness: weak: unchaste.—adj. Frail′ish somewhat frail.—adv. Frail′ly.—ns. Frail′ness Frail′ty weakness: infirmity.
n. a rush: a basket made of rushes.
Editor: Maureen
Examples
- This is indeed, he continued, as he looked at the flimsy texture and slender fingers, a slight and frail gage for a purpose so deadly! Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- Perish a thousand such frail baubles as this Jewess, before thy manly step pause in the brilliant career that lies stretched before thee! Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- Moreover, at this instant, I had good reason to believe the provoking little reptile was actually in the arms of some frail, very frail, French woman. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- Those few warm words, though only warm with anger, breathed on that frail frost-work of reserve; about this time, it gave note of dissolution. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- But this was so still and frail, as space is more frightening than force. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- It was only when I saw him really unhappy that I felt really vexed with the fair, frail cause of his suffering. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Never, said he, as he ground his teeth, never was anything at once so frail and so indomitable. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- And now, though it seemed slighter and frailer than ever, it had suddenly hardened to adamant, and he might beat his life out against it in vain. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- It is always the frailest, the oldest, and the poorest that brave the worst weather, to prove and maintain their constancy to dear old mother church. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Yet of all the reeds that civilization leans upon, surely the police is the frailest. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
Checked by Cecily