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To be overwhelmed or depressed; to fall slowly, as so the ground, from weakness or from an overburden; to fail in strength; to decline; to decay; to decrease. I think our country sinks beneath the yoke. Shak. He sunk down in his chariot. 2 Kings ix. 24. Let not the fire sink or slacken. Mortimer.

lness of matter, -- opposed to openness or hollowness; strength; soundness, -- opposed to weakness or instability; the primary quality or affection of matter by which its particles exclude or resist all others; hardness; massiveness. That which hinders the approach of two bodies when they are moving one toward another,…

or to treat, superficially, or in a shallow or slighting way. [R.] It is a characteristic weakness of the day to superficialize evil. E. P. Whipple.

Having the back hollow or sagged, whether naturally or as the result of injury or weakness; -- said of horses and other animals.

; to entrap; as, to be tangled in lies. "Tangled in amorous nets." Milton. When my simple weakness strays, Tangled in forbidden ways. Crashaw.

eaments. [Obs.] The discovery of a man's self by the tracts of his countenance is a great weakness. Bacon.

To draw away; to seduce. [Obs.] I can forget the weakness Of the traduced soldiers. Beau. & Fl.

To shake involuntarily, as with fear, cold, or weakness; to quake; to quiver; to shiver; to shudder; -- said of a person or an animal. I tremble still with fear. Shak. Frighted Turnus trembled as he spoke. Dryden.

Want of power; weakness. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

Infirmity; weakness. [Obs.] Wyclif.

Want of strength; weakness; feebleness. [Obs.] Wyclif.

To cause to shake; to tremble; to move tremulously, as from weakness; to totter. [Obs.]