Etymology of the English word imbecile
the English word
imbecilederived from the French word
imbecilederived from the Latin word
imbecillus (weak, feeble; delicate)
using the Latin prefix
im-derived from the Latin prefix
in- (suffix for no)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ne (not)
derived from the Classical Latin word
bacillum (bacillus; stick, walking stick, staff)
derived from the Latin word
baculum (stick, walking stick, staff)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*bak-Date
The earliest known usage of imbecile in English dates from the 16th century.
Derivations in English
imbecilicUsage
Word found in Modern English
