Originally, the term “imbecile” was used by psychiatrists to classify individuals with an IQ ranging from 26 to 50, placing them above an “idiot” but below a “moron.” While initially a valid descriptor utilized in legal contexts to establish mental incompetence, the term eventually acquired negative connotations, much like its counterparts. Derived from Latin, specifically from “imbecillus,” which translates to “weak,” the term consists of the prefix “in-” (with the “n” changing to an “m” before a “b” or “p” due to place assimilation) and the root “baculum,” meaning “stick.” The relationship between being “unsupported” and lacking a walking stick is somewhat ambiguous, possibly linking back to Proto-Indo-European “bak,” also signifying “stick.”
