1. trans. To render unable, to unfit or incapacitate, to do something. Sometimes spec. in Law: To make legally incapable.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., I. 147. Myche more shulde worldely lordship unable men now to take þis Goost.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 9423. He woundit hym wickedly in his wale face, And vnablit after with angur to fight.
a. 1470. Harding, Chron., CLVII. iii. This Edmond thelder soonne of Kyng Henry, Broke backed and bowbacked bore, Was vnabled to haue the monarche.
1567–9. Jewel, Def. Apol. (1611), 195. Then doth it [the vow] not of necessitie and fine force vnable a man to contract Matrimonie.
1613. Sherley, Trav. Persia, 32. The eldest son of the King remained at the Court of his father, administring all that, which his fathers defect of light vnabled him to doe.
1640. Habington, Edw. IV., 67. They … had been unabled to pay their usuall tribute to the King.
a. 1774. Goldsm., Hist. Greece, I. 207. Until both were utterly unabled to withstand the smallest efforts of foreign invasion.
refl. c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 191. Þei vnablen hem self to do þe office of prestis. Ibid. (c. 1380), Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 36. Þre ordris in Cristis tyme unabliden hem to be of þis rewme.
b. Const. to (or of) an action, office, etc.
a. 1395. Hylton, Scala Perf., II. xv. (W. de W., 1494). How louers of this worlde unable hem in dyuers maners to the refourmyng of her owne soule.
a. 1470. H. Parker, Dives & Pauper (W. de W., 1496), I. xxxviii. 79/1. He sholde be pryued of his benefyce yf that he hadde ony. Yf he had no benefyce he sholde be unabled and dysposed therto.
1560. Knox, Bk. Common Order (1901), 20. The crimes and vices that might unable them of the Ministry.
2. Without const.: To unfit or incapacitate, to deprive of ability or power, in some respect; to disable physically.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., I. 105. Siþ he … wiþdrawiþ never his grace, but ȝif man unable him selfe. Ibid., 219. As distempour of þe eir shal sle men and unable þe erþe.
c. 1450. in Aungier, Syon (1840), 281. Whom euerychone and eche trespasyng in the premysses, we unable for euermore in the selfdede doyng.
1503. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 547/1. To the use, profitte or behove of any persone or persones by this Acte not attaynted nor unabled.
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, III. (Arb.), 80. I through pangs vncoth vnhabled, With stutting stamering at leingth thus fumbled an aunswer.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 285. That old Leacher, worne out and unabled, though he dyed his haire black that he might seeme to be young.
1654. Gayton, Pleas. Notes, III. v. 100. That is to say, with three hard words, un-mule, un-leg, and un-able, Alanso Lopez.
1775. Johnson, Lett., in Boswell (1831), III. 255. Poor Lucy Porter has her hand in a bag, so unabled by the gout that she cannot dress herself.
b. To annul or cancel. rare–1.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xxi. § 134. Hee prepared himselfe to make his Wil, wherein howsoeuer titles had been vnhabled in Parliaments, he ordained his three children to succeede each after others.
Hence † Unabling vbl. sb. Obs.
1475. Rolls of Parlt., VI. 147/2. As if the said Acte of atteyndre or unablyng never had been made. Ibid. (1503), 548.
