faiblissons

Faiblissons is a French verb form that belongs to the verb faiblir, meaning to weaken or diminish in strength or intensity. In common usage, faiblissons is the present indicative first-person plural form: “we weaken.” The same form can also function as the inclusive imperative for the group including the speaker, yielding a subtle exhortation: “let us weaken” or “let us lower.”

Etymology and form: the verb faiblir derives from the adjective faible (weak) and expresses a process of becoming weaker. Faiblir is a regular -ir verb, and its present tense forms are: je faiblis, tu faiblis, il faiblit, nous faiblissons, vous faiblissez, ils faiblissent.

Usage: faiblissons can be used in literal contexts, such as describing physical fatigue or a decline in strength, and in figurative contexts, such as waning influence, reduced intensity, or softened demands. It appears in both prose and formal speech. Examples include: “Nous faiblissons sous le poids des obligations” (We weaken under the weight of the obligations) and “Faiblissons nos exigences pour parvenir à un accord” (Let us ease our demands to reach an agreement).

Alternatives: in modern usage, speakers often choose diminuer (to decrease) or s’affaiblir (to weaken, often reflexive) when referring to decline, whereas faiblir tends to emphasize the gradual loss of strength or intensity.

See also: faible, faiblir, faiblesse.