1. A stupid or silly person; a dolt. 2. A person whose mental acumen is well below par. 3. A person of moderate to severe mental retardation having a mental age of from three to seven years and generally being capable of some degree of communication and performance of simple tasks under supervision. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.
ADJECTIVE:
also im·be·cil·ic (mb-slk) 1. Stupid; silly. 2. Well below par in mental acumen.
ETYMOLOGY:
From obsolete French imbécille, weak, feeble, from Old French, from Latin imbcillus : in-, not; see in–1 + possibly bacillum, staff, diminutive of baculum, rod; see bak- in Appendix I.
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cillus : in-, not; see in–1 + possibly bacillum, staff, diminutive of baculum, rod; see bak- in Appendix I.
