frailty means the condition quality of being frail, physically, mentally, or morally; weakness of resolution; liability to be deceived. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 71 out of 100.
frailty is pronounced /ˈfɹeɪlti/.
Why “frailty” is a great word
FRAILTY — [Noun] The condition of being weak, either physically, mentally, or morally; a fault or sin arising from such weakness. From Middle English frelete, frailte, from Old French fraileté ("weakness"), from Latin fragilitās ("brittleness, fragility"). Unlike "fragility," which denotes the physical brittleness of an object, or "foible," which suggests a minor, endearing character quirk, frailty implies a profound vulnerability in a living being. It is the tremor in a hand refusing its teacup, the sudden capitulation to a long-resisted temptation, and the crack in a voice that confesses a secret—the human signature written in fading ink.
Etymology
From Middle English frelete, frailte, from Old French fraileté, from Latin fragilitās. By surface analysis, frail + -ty. Doublet of fragility.
noun
- The condition quality of being frail, physically, mentally, or morally; weakness of resolution; liability to be deceived.“the limitations and restraints of civil government, and a legal constitution, may be defended, either from reason, which reflecting on the great frailty and corruption of human nature, teaches, that no man can safely be trusted with unlimited authority ;”
- A fault proceeding from weakness; foible; sin of infirmity.