a French term, frequently used also in our language. It literally signifies weak; and in that sense is applied to the body of animals, and the parts thereof; as, foible reins, foible sight, &c., being derived from the Italian debole, or the Latin flabiles, to be "lamented, pitied."

But it is chiefly used with us substantively, to denote a defect or flaw in a person or thing. Thus we say, Every person has his foible; and the great secret consists in hiding it artfully: Princes are gained by flattery, that is their foible: The foible of young people is pleasure; the foible of old men is avarice; the foible of the great and learned is vanity; the foible of women and girls, coquetry, or an affectation of having gallants: You should know the forte and the foible of a man, before you employ him: We should not let people perceive that we know their foible.