disabled
UK: dɪsˈeɪbld | US: dɪsˈeɪbld
adj. lacking one or more physical or mental abilities; impaired
adj. (of a system or feature) deactivated or rendered nonfunctional
vt. (past tense of disable) to deprive of capability or effectiveness
dis<opposite> + able<capable> + ed<adjective suffix>
- dis: A prefix of negation or reversal, from Latin dis-, meaning "apart" or "opposite."
- able: From Latin -abilis, via Old French, meaning "capable of."
- ed: A suffix forming adjectives, indicating a state or condition.
Etymology Origin:
The word disabled emerged in the 16th century, combining dis- (negation) with able (capability) to describe a lack of physical or functional capacity. Originally applied to inanimate objects (e.g., disabled ships), it later extended to describe human impairments, reflecting societal shifts in understanding ability. The term’s evolution mirrors the tension between medical and social models of disability.
The software disables unused features to improve performance.
The building has ramps for disabled visitors.
He was disabled by a childhood illness but became a successful advocate.
The alarm system was disabled during maintenance.
Laws protect disabled workers from discrimination.