flaw
UK[flɔː]US[flɑː]
n
a mark or fault that spoils something and makes it less perfect or effective
n
a weakness in someone's character
v
to spoil something by causing a fault or weakness in it
Etymology
the word 'flaw' entered middle english from old norse 'flaga', which denoted a slab or flake of stone. this concrete sense of a broken fragment naturally evolved to signify an imperfection or a crack, especially in a hard substance. by the late 16th century, its meaning broadened abstractly to include any defect, blemish, or fault in character or reasoning. the journey from a physical stone fragment to an abstract imperfection illustrates a common path of semantic generalization, where a word's literal, tangible meaning gives rise to a metaphorical one.
Analysis
this word is a simplex form. it is a loanword from old norse 'flaga', meaning 'a slab of stone', which evolved to mean a fragment or a defect. its functional role is as a complete lexical root.
Examples
a tiny flaw in the glass rendered the expensive vase worthless.
his quick temper is his greatest character flaw.
the study's methodology was seriously flawed, undermining its conclusions.