foible
/ˈfɔɪb(ə)l
/noun
1A minor weakness or eccentricity in someone’s character: they have to tolerate each other’s little foibles...
- Do you think they just have a screenwriting computer programme that builds in all these character flaws and foibles?
- He is certainly an avuncular figure, more paternal than patriarchal, yet even his faults and foibles are masculine in character.
- Character faults and foibles surface slowly and are dealt with compassionately.
Synonyms
weakness, weak point, weak spot, failing, shortcoming, flaw, imperfection, blemish, fault, defect, frailty, infirmity, inadequacy, limitation;
quirk, kink, idiosyncrasy, eccentricity, peculiarity, abnormality;
Achilles heel, chink in one's armour
informal hang-up
2 Fencing The part of a sword blade from the middle to the point. Compare with forte1.Again footwork is often required to create the correct distance to allow you to parry the foible of the attacking blade....
- This technique begins at the instant when the foible of the adversary's blade is against the forte of your blade.
- He parries with his foible when a feint is close but his real defense is his feet.
Origin
Late 16th century (as an adjective in the sense 'feeble'): from obsolete French, in Old French fieble (see feeble). Both noun senses also formerly occurred as senses of the word feeble and all date from the 17th century.