† unabledadj.
Obsolete. rare.
1. Unqualified.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > [adjective] > unable or unapt > unfit or unqualified
indisposedc1449
unabled1497
unhabile1539
unqualified1556
inabilitate1577
incapable1651
inhabile1727
1497–8 Old City Acct. Bk. in Archæol. Jrnl. (1886) 43 168 It[e]m for a fyne lost by Will[ia]m Birchwold for settyng to werke a child vnabled & vnbound [= unapprenticed], xd.
1653 J. Gauden Hieraspistes 226 Compleating those sad effects, which disorderly, unordeined, unsent, and unabled Teachers..have already begun.
2. Not endowed with strength or vigour.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak
unmightyeOE
unferea1060
unwieldc1220
fade1303
lewc1325
weak1340
fainta1375
sicklyc1374
unwieldyc1386
impotent1390
delicatea1398
lowa1398
unmighta1450
unlustyc1450
low-brought1459
wearyc1480
failed1490
worn1508
caduke?1518
fainty1530
weak1535
debile1536
fluey1545
tewly?1547
faltering1549
puling1549
imbecilec1550
debilitate1552
flash1562
unable1577
unhealthful1595
unabled1597
whindling1601
infirm1608
debilitated1611
bedrid1629
washya1631
silly1636
fluea1645
tender1645
invaletudinary1661
languishant1674
valetudinaire?c1682
puly1688
thriftless1693
unheartya1699
wishy-washy1703
enervate1706
valetudinarian1713
lask1727
wersh1755
palliea1774
wankle1781
asthenic1789
atonic1792
squeal1794
adynamic1803
worn-down1814
totterish1817
asthenical1819
prostrate1820
used up1823
wankya1825
creaky1834
groggy1834
puny1838
imbeciled1840
rickety-rackety1840
muscleless1841
weedy1849
tottery1861
crocky1880
wimbly-wambly1881
ramshackle1889
twitterly1896
twittery1907
wonky1919
strung out1959
1597 T. Middleton Wisdome of Solomon Paraphr. ii. sig. C3v Wee are the cedars, they the mushromes bee, Vnabled shrubs, vnto an abled tree.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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adj.1497