disable

From dis- +‎ able.

• IPA^(key): /dɪsˈeɪbəl/
• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /dɪzˈeɪbəl/^[1]
• Rhymes: -eɪbəl

• Audio (UK):

  (file)

disable (third-person singular simple present disables, present participle disabling, simple past and past participle disabled)

1. (transitive) To render unable; to take away an ability of, as by crippling.
2. (chiefly of a person) To impair the physical or mental abilities of; to cause a serious, permanent injury.

   Falling off the horse disabled him.

3. (chiefly electronics, computing) To deactivate, to make inoperational (especially of a function of an electronic or mechanical device).

   The pilot had to disable the autopilot of his airplane.

• unable (non-standard), see also Thesaurus:disable
• deactivate

• enable

• disablement

disable (comparative more disable, superlative most disable)

1. (obsolete) Lacking ability; unable.
   • 1595, Samuel Daniel, “(please specify the folio number)”, in The First Fowre Bookes of the Ciuile Wars between the Two Houses of Lancaster and Yorke, London: P Short for Simon Waterson, →OCLC:

     Our disable and unactive force.

• labside, baldies, basiled, diables

• IPA^(key): /ˈdɪsebl/, /ˈdɪʃebl/

disable (third-person singular simple present disables, present participle disablein, simple past disablet, past participle disablet)

1. disable, disqualify