Debility refers to diminished physical strength or endurance caused by disease, fatigue, or advancing age. Historically it was a common diagnosis for conditions that weakened the body without a clearly defined cause. Literary references to debility often emphasise the gradual loss of vigour that accompanies prolonged illness or hardship. Poets may use the term to express the fading of physical power, reflecting on the contrast between youthful energy and the inevitable weakening of the body over time.

Debility refers to weakness or loss of physical strength caused by illness or age. In poetry the term often symbolises human frailty and the gradual decline of vitality. Writers may use debility to contrast youthful energy with the weakness of later life. The concept frequently appears in reflective or philosophical verse about mortality. Debility can also represent social exhaustion or spiritual fatigue, expanding its meaning beyond simple physical illness.