lame
UK: leɪm | US: leɪm
adj. 1. (of a person or animal) unable to walk normally due to injury or disability in a leg or foot.
adj. 2. (informal) weak, unconvincing, or unsatisfactory.
vt. 1. (archaic) to make lame; cripple.
The word "lame" traces back to Old English lama, meaning "crippled or lame," and shares roots with Proto-Germanic lamon and Old Norse lame. Its Indo-European root lem- conveys the idea of "broken" or "weak," linking to physical disability. Over time, the term expanded metaphorically to describe anything feeble or unsatisfactory (e.g., "a lame excuse"). The verb form, now archaic, originally meant "to cripple."
The horse went lame after stepping on a sharp stone.
His lame attempt at humor fell flat during the meeting.
(Archaic) The injury lamed the soldier for life.
She dismissed his apology as lame and insincere.
Without evidence, the argument sounded lame.