Tuesday, April 14, 2009

vul⋅ner⋅a⋅bly, adverb

vul·ner·a·ble

(vŭl'nər-ə-bəl) adj. Susceptible to physical or emotional injury. Susceptible to attack: "We are vulnerable both by water and land, without either fleet or army" (Alexander Hamilton). Open to censure or criticism; assailable. Liable to succumb, as to persuasion or temptation. Games In a position to receive greater penalties or bonuses in a hand of bridge. In a rubber, used of the pair of players who score 100 points toward game. Liable to succumb, as to persuasion or temptation. Games In a position to receive greater penalties or bonuses in a hand of bridge. In a rubber, used of the pair of players who score 100 points toward game. [Late Latin vulnerābilis, wounding, from Latin vulnerāre, to wound, from vulnus, vulner-, wound; see welə- in Indo-European roots.] vul'ner·a·bil'i·ty, vul'ner·a·ble·ness n., vul'ner·a·bly adv.

Vulnerable

Vul"ner*a*ble\, a. [L. vulnerabilis wounding, injurious, from vulnerare to wound, vulnus a wound; akin to Skr. vra?a: cf. F. vuln['e]rable.]1. Capable of being wounded; susceptible of wounds or external injuries; as, a vulnerable body. Achilles was vulnerable in his heel; and there will be wanting a Paris to infix the dart. --Dr. T. Dwight. 2. Liable to injury; subject to be affected injuriously; assailable; as, a vulnerable reputation. His skill in finding out the vulnerable parts of strong minds was consummate. --Macaulay.

vulnerable
adjective
1.	susceptible to attack; "a vulnerable bridge" [ant: invulnerable]
2.	susceptible to criticism or persuasion or temptation; "vulnerable to bribery"; "an argument vulnerable to refutation"
3.	capable of being wounded or hurt; "vulnerable parts of the body"

Main Entry: vul·ner·a·ble
Pronunciation: 'v&ln-(&-)r&-b&l, 'v&l-n&r-b&l
Function: adjective
: capable ofbeing hurt : susceptible to injury or disease vulnerable to nutritional impairment —Journal of the American Medical Association> —vul·ner·a·bil·i·ty /"v&ln-(&-)r&-'bil-&t-E/ noun plural -ties