imbecility

将“imbecility”拆分为“im”和“be”及“cility”。首先，“im”是前缀，通常表示否定或相反的意思，在这里暗示不健全。接着，“be”是动词“be”的变形，意味着存在或性质。最后，“cility”类似于“ability”，意味着能力。因此，将这三个部分组合起来，可以记忆为“imperfect capacity”，即“不完善的能力”，这有助于理解“imbecility”表示愚蠢或智力不健全的意思。

imbecility (n.)

early 15c., "physical weakness, feebleness (of a body part), impotence," from Middle French imbécillité and directly from Latin imbecillitatem (nominative imbecillitas) "weakness, feebleness," from imbecillus "weak, feeble," traditionally said to mean "unsupported" (quasi sine baculo), from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + baculum "a stick" (see bacillus). "Weakness in mind" (as opposed to body) was a secondary sense in Latin but was not attested in English until 1620s.

1. We commented adversely upon the imbecility of that message of telegraphic style.

我们对着这条电报式的愚蠢的留言发泄了一通不满.