crippled
UK: /ˈkrɪpld/ | US: /ˈkrɪpld/
adj. 1. (of a person or animal) unable to walk or move normally due to injury or illness.
adj. 2. (of a system, organization, or machine) severely impaired or inefficient.
vt. 3. to cause severe damage or impairment to something.
crippled = cripp<to creep/bend> + le<verb suffix> + d<past participle suffix>
- cripp: Derived from Old English crypel, meaning "one who creeps or bends," related to creopan (to creep). The root implies physical limitation or distortion.
- le: A verb-forming suffix in Old English, often indicating repetitive or diminutive action.
- d: Marks the past participle form, turning the verb into an adjective.
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Old English crypel, describing someone who moves with difficulty, akin to "creeping." Over time, crippled evolved to describe both physical disability and metaphorical impairment (e.g., "crippled economy"). The root cripp- reflects the bent or restricted movement of the affected subject.
The accident left him permanently crippled.
The company was crippled by financial mismanagement.
Without funding, the research project is crippled.
She refused to let her crippled leg limit her ambitions.
The storm crippled the city's transportation network.