infirmĭtas, ātis, f. [infirmus], want of strength; weakness, feebleness.
I Lit.: puerorum, Cic. de Sen. 10, 33: summa gracilitas et infirmitas corporis, id. Fam. 7, 1: oculorum, Plin. Ep. 7, 21: propter sexus infirmitatem, Ulp. Fragm. 11, 1: aetatis, Paul. Sent. 1, 7, 2. —
2 In partic. (sc. corporis, valetudinis), infirmity , indisposition , sickness : suspicionem infirmitatis dare, Suet. Tib. 72: infirmitate correptus, Just. 28, 3; Plin. Ep. 10, 6, 1: infirmitate impeditus, Dig. 4, 6, 38.—
B Transf.
1 Of things: hordeo contra tempestates maxima infirmitas, Plin. 18, 7, 18, § 78: aedificii, Dig. 39, 2, 43: nimia vini, Col. 12; 20, 7.—
2 Concr., of the weaker sex , women , Liv. 34, 7 fin. : infirmitas a robustioribus separanda est, children , Quint. 2, 2, 14. —
II Trop.
A In gen.: animi, want of spirit , want of courage , Cic. Rosc. Am. 4, 10: mentis, Sen. Ep. 11: memoriae, weakness , Dig. 41, 2, 44: necesse est aut infirmitati aut invidiae adsignetur, Caec. in Cic. Fam. 6, 7, 3. —
B In partic., fickleness , inconstancy : infirmitatem Gallorum veritus, quod sunt in consiliis capiendis mobiles, Caes. B. G. 4, 5.