cripple

cripple
[[t]krɪ̱p(ə)l[/t]]
cripples, crippling, crippled
1) N-COUNT A person with a physical disability or a serious permanent injury is sometimes referred to as a cripple. [OFFENSIVE]

She has gone from being a healthy, fit, and sporty young woman to being a cripple.

2) VERB If someone is crippled by an injury, it is so serious that they can never move their body properly again.

[be V-ed] Mr Easton was seriously crippled in an accident and had to leave his job...

[V n] He had been warned that another bad fall could cripple him for life...

[V-ed] He heaved his crippled leg into an easier position.

3) N-COUNT If you describe someone as an emotional cripple, you mean that they have a particular psychological or emotional problem which prevents them from living a normal life.
4) VERB If something cripples a person, it causes them severe psychological or emotional problems.

[V n] Howard wanted to be a popular singer, but stage fright crippled him...

[V-ed] I'm not perfect but I'm also not emotionally crippled or lonely.

5) VERB To cripple a machine, organization, or system means to damage it severely or prevent it from working properly.

[V n] Let's try to cripple their communications...

[V n] A total cut-off of supplies would cripple Jordan's economy...

[V-ed] The pilot was able to maneuver the crippled aircraft out of the hostile area.


English dictionary. 2008.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cripple — Crip ple (kr[i^]p p l), n. [OE. cripel, crepel, crupel, AS. crypel (akin to D. kreuple, G. kr[ u]ppel, Dan. kr[ o]bling, Icel. kryppill), prop., one that can not walk, but must creep, fr. AS. cre[ o]pan to creep. See {Creep}.] One who creeps,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cripple — Crip ple, (kr[i^]p p l), n. [Local. U. S.] (a) Swampy or low wet ground, often covered with brush or with thickets; bog. The flats or cripple land lying between high and low water lines, and over which the waters of the stream ordinarily come and …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cripple — Crip ple (kr[i^]p p l), a. Lame; halting. [R.] The cripple, tardy gaited night. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cripple — Crip ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Crippled} ( p ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Crippling} ( pl?ng).] 1. To deprive of the use of a limb, particularly of a leg or foot; to lame. [1913 Webster] He had crippled the joints of the noble child. Sir W. Scott. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cripple — (n.) O.E. crypel, related to cryppan to crook, bend, from P.Gmc. *krupilaz (Cf. O.Fris. kreppel, M.Du. cropel, Ger. krüppel, O.N. kryppill). Possibly also related to O.E. creopan to creep (creopere, lit. creeper, was another O.E. word for… …   Etymology dictionary

  • cripple — [v1] disable; make lame attenuate, blunt, debilitate, disarm, dislimb, dismember, enfeeble, hamstring*, hurt, immobilize, incapacitate, injure, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, palsy, paralyze, prostrate, sap, sideline*, stifle, undermine,… …   New thesaurus

  • cripple — ► NOUN archaic or offensive ▪ a person who is unable to walk or move properly through disability or injury. ► VERB 1) make (someone) unable to move or walk properly. 2) cause severe and disabling damage to (something). USAGE The word cripple as a …   English terms dictionary

  • cripple — [krip′əl] n. [ME cripel < OE crypel (akin to Ger krüppel) < base of creopan: see CREEP] 1. a person or animal that is lame or otherwise disabled in a way that prevents normal motion of the limbs or body: somewhat offensive when used to… …   English World dictionary

  • cripple — index damage, debilitate, disable, disarm (divest of arms), foil, frustrate, harm, hinder, impair …   Law dictionary

  • cripple — vb 1 *maim, mutilate, batter, mangle Analogous words: *injure, hurt 2 disable, *weaken, enfeeble, debilitate, undermine, sap Analogous words: damage, harm, impair, mar (see INJURE) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • cripple — meaning ‘a person who is permanently lame’ is now regarded as offensive. Use disabled person instead …   Modern English usage

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