enervate
/ˈenəveɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈenərveɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈnər-vət/ (ame, mw)
enervate — 動詞
- enervatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- enervateshe / she / it
- enervatedpast simple
- enervating-ing form
1. to gradually drain someone's physical or mental strength over time, leaving them
使衰弱
消耗體力或精神
to gradually drain someone's physical or mental strength over time, leaving them with very little energy to continue what they are doing
The long illness enervated Rohan, leaving him too weak to climb the stairs.
長期的疾病使 Rohan 身體衰弱，連爬樓梯的力氣都沒有。
passive: be enervated by [illness]
Evelyn felt completely enervated by the constant noise and lack of sleep in the city.
Evelyn 被城市裡不斷的噪音和睡眠不足搞得完全衰弱無力。
be enervated by + noun phrase
Living through a war would enervate even the strongest human spirit.
經歷一場戰爭會削弱最堅強的人心。
The tropical heat enervated the hikers, and they stopped to rest under a tree.
熱帶的酷熱使登山隊員們疲憊不堪，他們停下來在樹蔭下休息。
Months of caring for his elderly mother enervated Leo, both physically and emotionally.
數月照顧年邁的母親讓 Leo 在身心兩方面都元氣大傷。
- exhaust
more common and less formal; suggests using up all of something
- debilitate
similar register; emphasizes physical impairment rather than energy loss
- sap
more informal; suggests a gradual, unnoticed draining
- drain
more general and frequent; can be physical or abstract
- energize
the direct opposite in spelling and meaning
- invigorate
suggests giving fresh energy and vitality
文法句型
enervate + object
be enervated by + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice (be/get enervated by). The active subject is typically an impersonal force such as heat, illness, grief, or prolonged effort. Do not confuse with 'energize' — the two words have opposite meanings despite the similar spelling.
常見錯誤
enervate — 形容詞
- enervatepositive
- more enervatecomparative
- most enervatesuperlative
1. in a weakened condition affecting the body, mind, or willpower, so that a person
衰弱的
身心缺乏活力的狀態
in a weakened condition affecting the body, mind, or willpower, so that a person has very little energy or drive
After the long ceremony, the audience looked enervate and ready to leave the hall.
冗長的典禮結束後，聽眾看起來疲憊不堪，只想趕快離開會場。
predicative use after 'looked'
The enervate patient could barely lift her hand to wave goodbye to her family.
那位虛弱的病人幾乎舉不起手向家人揮手道別。
attributive: enervate + patient
Selim felt enervate after working double shifts for two weeks without a break.
Selim 連續兩週上雙班沒休息，感覺渾身無力。
The team's enervate performance showed how little energy they had left after the long season.
這支球隊無精打采的表現顯示出他們在漫長的球季後已所剩無幾的體力。
用法筆記
The bare adjective form 'enervate' is less common in modern English than the past participle 'enervated.' When used attributively (before a noun), it appears mostly in formal, literary, or academic writing.