anile

[ an-ahyl, ey-nahyl ]

adjective

1. of or like a foolish, doddering old woman.

anile

/ ˈænaɪl; ˈeɪnaɪl; əˈnɪlɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of or like a feeble old woman

Derived Forms

• anility, noun

Other Words From

• a·nil·i·ty [uh, -, nil, -i-tee], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of anile¹

1645–55; < Latin anīlis pertaining to an old woman, equivalent to an ( us ) old woman + -īlis -ile

Word History and Origins

Origin of anile¹

C17: from Latin anīlis, from anus old woman

Example Sentences

A half anile flickered across the queen's face.

From Literature

The object of Zoe's anile affection was a capable man, and justified his rather humiliating elevation by good service to the empire.

From Project Gutenberg

As to their religion, it had the reputation popularly, according to various Fathers, of being an anile superstition, the discovery of old women, a joke, a madness, an infatuation, an absurdity, a fanaticism.

From Project Gutenberg

Such a relief must have come to many readers of Cowper, who would put down his religion as rank fanaticism, and his satire as anile declamation.

From Project Gutenberg

The ladies 246 would not think so,” he added, mournfully wagging his head with anile melancholy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• battered
• broken-down
• creaky
• dilapidated
• feeble
• flimsy
• frail
• infirm
• ramshackle
• rickety
• run down
• seedy
• shabby