Home › Glossary › Letter I

Infirmity

Medical Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Physical weakness or disability, especially associated with age or chronic illness. In poetry it symbolises the limitations of the human body.

Detailed Definition
Infirmity refers to bodily weakness that arises from illness, injury, or the gradual decline of age. The term has long been associated with the inevitable imperfections of human existence. In poetry infirmity often appears as a reminder that strength and health are temporary conditions. By emphasising the body’s limitations, poets explore themes of humility, mortality, and the contrast between human aspiration and physical constraint.
Example
Example in poetry:
The saint was known for bearing his infirmity with grace; Poets write of the infirmities of old age; He struggled against the infirmity of his weak legs; The infirmity of purpose led to his failure; She cared for him through every physical infirmity; Infirmity is often paired with wisdom in character studies.
Additional Notes
Infirmity refers to long term weakness or disability, often associated with ageing. In poetry the term frequently symbolises the limits of human strength and the gradual decline of the body. Writers may contrast youthful vitality with the infirmities of old age. The word also appears in philosophical reflections on human imperfection and vulnerability.
Other Meanings of “Infirmity”
Also Known As
Weakness Chronic Weakness Physical Frailty
Skip to main content