incapable

incapable
adjective Etymology: Middle French, from in- + capable capable Date: 1594 1. lacking capacity, ability, or qualification for the purpose or end in view: as a. archaic not able to take in, hold, or keep b. archaic not receptive c. not being in a state or of a kind to admit ; insusceptible d. not able or fit for the doing or performance ; incompetent 2. lacking legal qualification or power (as by reason of mental incompetence) ; disqualified • incapability nounincapableness nounincapably adverb

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • incapable — [ ɛ̃kapabl ] adj. • 1464; de 1. in et capable 1 ♦ Qui n est pas capable (par nature ou par accident, de façon temporaire, durable ou définitive). ⇒ impuissant, inapte, inhabile (à). INCAPABLE DE. Être incapable de faire qqch. ⇒Fam. infichu,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Incapable — In*ca pa*ble, a. [Pref. in not + capable: cf. F. incapable, L. incapabilis incomprehensible.] [1913 Webster] 1. Lacking in ability or qualification for the purpose or end in view; not large enough to contain or hold; deficient in physical… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • incapable — in·ca·pa·ble adj: lacking legal qualification or power (as by reason of mental incompetence) see also incapacity Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. incapable …   Law dictionary

  • incapable — [in kā′pə bəl] adj. [LL incapabilis] not capable; specif., a) lacking the necessary ability, competence, strength, etc. b) not legally qualified or eligible incapable of 1. not allowing or admitting; not able to accept or experience [incapable of …   English World dictionary

  • incapable — (adj.) 1590s, from M.Fr. incapable and directly from M.L. incapabilis, from in not (see IN (Cf. in ) (1)) + capabilis (see CAPABLE (Cf. capable)). Related: Incapably; incapability …   Etymology dictionary

  • incapable — adj Incapable, incompetent, unqualified mean mentally or physically unfit, or unfitted by nature, character, or training, to do a given kind of work. Except for this denial of fitness the terms otherwise correspond to the affirmative adjectives… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • incapable — Incapable. adj. de tout genre, Qui n est pas capable. Il a toutes les significations contraires à celles de son simple, excepté celle qui regarde les choses materielles; car on ne dira pas, Cette eglise, cette salle est incapable de tenir tant de …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • incapable — ► ADJECTIVE 1) (incapable of) lacking the ability or required quality to do. 2) unable to behave rationally. DERIVATIVES incapability noun …   English terms dictionary

  • Incapable — In*ca pa*ble, n. One who is morally or mentally weak or inefficient; an imbecile; a simpleton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • incapable — [adj] not adequate; helpless butterfingers*, disqualified, feeble, impotent, inadequate, incompetent, ineffective, ineligible, inept, inexperienced, inexpert, inproficient, insufficient, losing, naive, not equal to, not up to*, poor, powerless,… …   New thesaurus

  • incapable — (in ka pa bl ) adj. 1°   Qui n est pas susceptible de...., en un sens défavorable ou favorable.    En un sens défavorable. Qui n a pas la capacité pour certaines choses. •   Il est savant, donc il est incapable d affaires, LA BRUYÈRE XII.… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

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