- unable
- adjective Date: 14th century not able ; incapable: as a. unqualified, incompetent b. impotent, helpless
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
unable
Look at other dictionaries:
Unable — Un*a ble, a. Not able; not having sufficient strength, means, knowledge, skill, or the like; impotent weak; helpless; incapable; now usually followed by an infinitive or an adverbial phrase; as, unable for work; unable to bear fatigue. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
unable — I adjective defenseless, disabled, feckless, forceless, helpless, impotent, inadequate, incapable, incompetent, ineffective, inefficient, inept, inoperative, insufficient, lame, notable, powerless, unfit, unqualified, useless, worthless II index… … Law dictionary
unable — (adj.) late 14c., lacking in ability, incapable, from UN (Cf. un ) (1) not + ABLE (Cf. able). Modeled on O.Fr. inhabile or L. inhabilis … Etymology dictionary
unable — [adj] not having talent, skill can’t cut it*, can’t hack it*, can’t make the grade*, clumsy, helpless, hog tied*, impotent, impuissant, inadequate, incapable, incapacitated, incompetent, ineffectual, inefficacious, inefficient, inept, inoperative … New thesaurus
unable — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ lacking the skill, means, or opportunity to do something … English terms dictionary
unable — [un ā′bəl] adj. 1. not able; lacking the ability, means, or power to do something 2. incompetent 3. helpless; feeble … English World dictionary
unable — adj. VERBS ▪ appear, be, feel, prove, seem ▪ become ▪ remain ▪ find yourself … Collocations dictionary
unable — un|a|ble [ ʌn eıbl ] adjective *** unable to do something FORMAL not able to do something. In ordinary speech can t do something is the more usual way of saying this: Some of the children were unable to read or write. feel unable to do something … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
unable — adj. (cannot stand alone) unable to + inf. (she is unable to work today) * * * [ʌn eɪb(ə)l] (cannot stand alone) unable to + int. (she is unable to work today) … Combinatory dictionary
unable — un|a|ble W2S3 [ʌnˈeıbəl] adj [not before noun] not able to do something →↑inability unable to do sth ▪ Lucy was unable to find out what had happened. ▪ Unable to sleep, I got up and made myself a drink … Dictionary of contemporary English
unable — [[t]ʌne͟ɪb(ə)l[/t]] ♦♦♦ ADJ: v link ADJ to inf If you are unable to do something, it is impossible for you to do it, for example because you do not have the necessary skill or knowledge, or because you do not have enough time or money. The… … English dictionary
