Decrepit
/dɪˈkrɛp.ɪt/noun
Worn out or ruined due to age or neglect.
Did you know?The word stems from Latin 'decrepitus', meaning 'feeble' or 'worn out', which was often associated with the frailty of age, evoking both pity and fear in ancient cultures.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
decrepitus
“Worn out, feeble, or weak, often due to old age.”
Middle English
Middle English
decrepitte
“Having become worn out or weakened; reflecting the effects of aging.”
14th Century
Old French
decrepit
“Describing someone or something as worn down or weakened by time.”
Modern English
English
decrepit
“Referring to persons or things that are weakened or damaged, particularly by age or neglect.”
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