weedy
Meaning
(of a person) thin and physically weak in appearance.
(of a plant) resembling a weed; growing vigorously like a weed.
full of or overgrown with weeds.
Structure
Usage
the neglected garden was weedy and overgrown.
he was a tall, weedy teenager with glasses.
the flower bed became weedy after a few weeks without maintenance.
Etymology
The Modern English word "weedy" is a straightforward compound of the noun "weed" and the adjectival suffix "-y". Its primary literal meaning, "full of weeds," directly stems from this morphological construction. The application to describe a thin, weak person is a metaphorical extension from the 19th century, drawing a comparison to the spindly, undesirable growth of a weed. The term effectively encapsulates the notion of being insubstantial or lacking robust, cultivated strength.
Analysis
"weed" originates from old english "wēod", meaning herb, grass, or weed. the suffix "-y" is from old english "-ig", used to form adjectives meaning "characterized by" or "full of".