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# weaken

verb (weaken, weakens, weakened, weakening)

«weaken» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To weaken means to become weaker, or to make someone or something weaker, less strong or less powerful. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/weaken/#m1)
2. To weaken can mean to start to give in or change your mind («He weakened and let us stay up late»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/weaken/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science it is used for forces, materials and health (illness weakens the body, rust weakens metal, a storm weakens as it crosses land, a solution weakens when you add water). In stories a hero or enemy weakens before the end. Opposite: «strengthen». Phrases: «weaken the structure», «weakened by illness».

### Examples

- The storm weakened as it moved over land. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/weaken/#x1)
- Rust can weaken a metal bridge. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/weaken/#x2)
- Being ill for a week weakened her. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/weaken/#x3)
- Adding water weakens the squash. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/weaken/#x4)
- Mum weakened and bought us ice cream. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/weaken/#x5)
- Cracks weakened the wall, so it was unsafe. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/weaken/#x6)
- The magic potion weakened the dragon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/weaken/#x7)
- Not sleeping enough can weaken your body. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/weaken/#x8)
- The reason for wearing these, he said, was that his eyes had been weakened by the work of many years. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/weaken/#x9)

### Note

From «weak» plus «-en» (to make). Regular: «weakened». Homophone trap: «weak» (not strong) and «week» (seven days) sound the same.

## In Jewish tradition

In science it is used for forces, materials and health (illness weakens the body, rust weakens metal, a storm weakens as it crosses land, a solution weakens when you add water). In stories a hero or enemy weakens before the end. Opposite: «strengthen». Phrases: «weaken the structure», «weakened by illness».

### Examples

- He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days. (Writings PSA.102.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/weaken/#x1)
- Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and harried them while they were building, (Writings EZR.4.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/weaken/#x2)
- For they all would have us afraid, saying: 'Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done.' But now, strengthen Thou my hands. (Writings NEH.6.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/weaken/#x3)

### Note

From «weak» plus «-en» (to make). Regular: «weakened». Homophone trap: «weak» (not strong) and «week» (seven days) sound the same.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «weaken» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/weaken/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«weaken» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/weaken.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «weaken» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/weaken/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«weaken» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/weaken.html) on Mova free.