im·be·cile ( m b -sl, -sl)n. 1. A stupid or silly person; a dolt. 2. A person whose mental acumen is well below par. 3. A person of moderate to severe mental retardation having a mental age of from three to seven years and generally being capable of some degree of communication and performance of simple tasks under supervision. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive. adj. also im·be·cil·ic ( m b-slk)1. Stupid; silly. 2. Well below par in mental acumen. [From obsolete French imbécille, weak, feeble, from Old French, from Latin imb  cillus : in-, not; see in-1 + possibly bacillum, staff, diminutive of baculum, rod; see bak- in Indo-European roots.]im be·cile·ly adv. |
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