衰弱、無力

Question 1

attenuate

Answer 1

attenuate [əˈtɛnjʊˌet]
(v) 變細、變弱
(MW1) to make (something) weaker or less in amount, effect, or force
(MW2) tomakethin or slender (細的)
[源] at- (= ad-,to) + tenu- (thin) + -ate(動尾) ，使變細 “漸弱”。
[例] Earplugs (耳塞) will attenuate the loud soundsofthe machinery.

Question 2

flag

Answer 2

flag [flæg]
(v) 使虛弱無力
(MW) to becomeunsteady, feeble, or spiritless
[衍] flagging [ˈflægɪŋ] (a) becoming progressively less: DWINDLING “虛弱無力的”
[例] Our interestflagged as the speaker droned (發出單調的聲音) on.
[例] flaggingstock prices (股價疲軟)
[源] 利用 “旗子” 的意象去想，沒有風吹的時候旗子 “垂掛” 在桿子上。

Question 3

enfeeble

Answer 3

enfeeble [ɪnˈfibəl]
(v) 使虛弱
(MW) to make feeble: deprive ofstrength
[源] en- (make) +feeble，使虛弱無力。
[衍] feeble [fibəl] (a) markedlylacking in strength “虛弱的”。
[例] Long periods ofbeing confined to a hospitalbed will enfeeble anyone.

Question 4

enervate

Answer 4

enervate [ˈɛnɚˌvet]
(v) 使無力
(MW1) to make (someone or something) very weak or tired
(MW2) to lessen the vitality or strengthof:UNNERVE
[源] e- (= ex-,out) + nerv- (sinew) + -ate (動尾) ，sinew “肌腱” 是肌肉活動的關鍵，引申為 “活力、精力”，enervate 即 out ofenergy “失去活力”。
[衍] enervation [ˌɛnɚˈveʃən] (n) “失去活力”。
[例] The surgery really enervated me for weeksafterwards.
[解] 此字長相和 energy 接近，但字源不同，意義恰好相反。energy 來自 en- (at) + erg (work) ，有 “精力” 才能工作。

Question 5

listless

Answer 5

listless [ˈlɪstlɪs]
(a) 無精打采的
(MW1) lacking energy or spirit
(MW2) characterized by lack ofinterest, energy, or spirit: LANGUID
[衍] listlessness (n) [ˈlɪstlɪsnɪs] “無精打采”。
[例] The heat madeeveryone tired and listless.
[記] 沒有拿到錄取學校寄來的 list，所以 “無精打采”。

Question 6

languid

Answer 6

languid [ˈlæŋgwɪd]
(a) 無精打采的
(MW1) showingor having very little strength, energy, or activity
(MW2) sluggishin characteror disposition: LISTLESS
[衍] languish (v) to continue for a long timewithout activity or progress in an unpleasant or unwantedsituation “使無力”。
[例] They proceededata languid pace.

Question 7

feckless

Answer 7

feckless [ˈfɛklɪs]
(a) 無效的、無價值的、無力的
(MW1) having or resulting from a weak characteror nature
(MW2) WEAK, INEFFECTIVE,FEEBLE
[源] feck (effect,value, vigor) + -less (without) ，無效的、無價值的、無力的。
[衍] fecklessness [ˈfɛklɪsnɪs] (n) “無效、無價值、無力”。
[例] a well-intentioned but feckless (無價值的) response to the rise in school violence

Question 8

doldrums

Answer 8

doldrums [ˈdɑldrəmz]
(n) 意志消沉
(MW1) a state orperiod of sadness ordepression
(MW2) a spell (一陣) of listlessness or despondency (沮喪)
[例] The team had beenin the doldrums ever since losing the championship.
[解] 原為地球科學名詞 “赤道無風帶 (ITCZ) ” (平時風平浪靜，卻又有暴風) ，引申為 “意志消 沉”，固定用法為 in the doldrums。