weake

Weake is primarily a historical spelling variant of the English adjective weak. In Middle English and Early Modern English texts, the form "weake" appears as an alternative orthography before standardization of spelling in the 18th century. The sense corresponds to lacking physical strength, vitality, or effectiveness, and it is encountered in religious tracts, poetry, and descriptive prose. In such contexts, "weake" often serves the same function as "weak," sometimes chosen for metrical reasons or stylistic effect in verse.

The modern standard spelling is "weak." Beyond its use as a variant spelling in historical texts, "Weake" may also appear as a surname or as a place-name in genealogical records, though these usages are relatively rare and not associated with a widely known figure or locality.

In linguistic and philological scholarship, "weake" is cited as an example of historical orthographic variation that helps scholars trace pronunciation and textual practices in Early Modern English. When encountered in contemporary writing with capital W, it is typically a proper noun or surname; otherwise, it signals archaic spelling.