Word of the Day: Vulnerable
vulnerable
vul-ner-a-ble / vŭl-nər-ə-bəl
adjective
1. susceptible to or likely to experience physical or emotional harm
To love is to be vulnerable.
C. S. Lewis, 1898 – 1963
2. easily tempted; corruptible
Nothing makes us more vulnerable than loneliness except greed.
Thomas Harris, 1940 –
3. defenseless; at risk of being exposed to something detrimental
If you will discipline yourself to make your mind self-sufficient you will thereby be least vulnerable to injury from the outside.
Critias of Athens, 460 BC – 403 BC
4. defenseless; at risk of being attacked
It was important that we should waste no time, and it was equally important that we should select the most vulnerable point for attack.
From “Edison’s Conquest of Mars” by Garrett Putman Serviss, 1851 – 1929
5. in bridge, likely to receive additional penalties or bonuses as the result of winning one game
How a side bids when vulnerable may be slightly different as they will be mindful of losing extra points if they fail to achieve their contract.
“How to Play Bridge” https://howtoplaybridge.co.uk/vulnerability-in-bridge/
etymology
From the Late Latin adjective vulnerabilis (able to be wounded), which comes from the Latin verb vulnero, vulnerare, vulneravi, vulneratus (wound) plus the Latin adjectival suffix -abilis, -ibilis, -bilis (having the capacity or ability)
Thank you to Allen Ward for providing this etymology.
