Incapable

Incapable
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 strength, mental or moral power, etc.; not capable; as, incapable of holding a certain quantity of liquid; incapable of endurance, of comprehension, of perseverance, of reform, etc. [1913 Webster]

2. Not capable of being brought to do or perform, because morally strong or well disposed; -- used with reference to some evil; as, incapable of wrong, dishonesty, or falsehood. [1913 Webster]

3. Not in a state to receive; not receptive; not susceptible; not able to admit; as, incapable of pain, or pleasure; incapable of stain or injury. [1913 Webster]

4. (Law) Unqualified or disqualified, in a legal sense; as, a man under thirty-five years of age is incapable of holding the office of president of the United States; a person convicted on impeachment is thereby made incapable of holding an office of profit or honor under the government. [1913 Webster]

5. (Mil.) As a term of disgrace, sometimes annexed to a sentence when an officer has been cashiered and rendered incapable of serving his country. [1913 Webster]

Note: Incapable is often used elliptically. [1913 Webster]

Is not your father grown incapable of reasonable affairs? --Shak.

Syn: Incompetent; unfit; unable; insufficient; inadequate; deficient; disqualified. See {Incompetent}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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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 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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