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† unˈcapable, a. Obs.
[un-1 7 b and 5 b.]
1. = incapable a. 1.
1587W. Fowler Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 98 My daisled eyes, vncapable of suche a splendant light. 1634Abp. Williams in Laud's Wks. (1857) VI. 405, I do endeavour, by my life and conversation, to make myself a vessel not altogether uncapable of that sacred oil. 1637C. Dow Answ. to H. Burton 40 Men were uncapable of these doctrines. 1713Steele Englishm. No. 55. 356, I know some..uncapable of the deep Secrets which lie in their Bosoms.
2. = incapable a. 2.
1586T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. i. 191 The brutish part of the soule, depending of the feeding beast, and uncapeable of reason. 1597Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. xlix. §3 Such as should be vncapable of so great a blessing. 1626Prynne Perpet. Regen. Man's Est. 55 These promises which I haue mentioned must needes be absolute.., because that most of them are vncapable of any condition. a1677Hale Prim. Orig. Man. i. v. 113 All which will produce multitudes uncapable of Infinitude, as much as the several individuals of Mankind. 1683Kennet Erasm. on Folly (1709) 30 He would be..uncapable of any ease or satisfaction. 1737Waterland Eucharist 111 Being utterly uncapable of any certain Proof, the Argument built thereupon, must of consequence fall to the Ground.
3. = incapable a. 3.
1611Tourneur Ath. Trag. ii. i, I am uncapable of comfort. 1651Hobbes Leviath. i. xvi. 81 There are few things, that are uncapable of being represented by Fiction. 1717J. Keill Anim. Œcon. (1738) 263 Things that lessen Perspiration, by being uncapable of Reduction. 1758Reid tr. Macquer's Chym. I. 6 The Earth, which we look upon as uncapable of vitrification.
4. = incapable a. 4 and 4 b.
1596Shakes. Merch. V. iv. i. 5 Thou art come to answere A stonie aduersary, an inhumane wretch, Vncapable of pitty. 1619Naunton in Fortescue Papers (Camden) 105 It would make him uncapable to do the service he pretends he can from Rome and other partes. 1642Complaint Ho. Comm. 19 We shal be made uncapable of taking fruit by it. 1716M. Davies Athen. Brit. II. 426 He is as uncapable to calculate Eclipses as he is unfit..to Judge of the three first Christian Centuries. 1745P. Thomas Jrnl. Anson's Voy. 154 Left us..to help ourselves, of which we were utterly uncapable. 1775Adair Amer. Ind. 176 Which might..render them uncapable of receiving the supposed divine inspiration. 1805–6Cary Dante, Inf. xxxiii. 91 Them..their tender years, thou modern Thebes, did make Uncapable of guilt.
5. = incapable a. 5. Also absol.
1627Hakewill Apol. Preface c v, Nature hath not made vs more vncapable then our Auncestours. 1632Lithgow Trav. x. 437 Preachers..who make conscience of their calling, and liue as Lanthorns to vncapable ignorants. 1653R. Sanders Physiogn. A 3 b, The eyes of the uncapable and ignorant debase, rather than illustrate and adorn them. 1712W. Rogers Voy. (1718) 309 Who have put the care of the said ship under an uncapable command. 1719in W. S. Perry Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch. (1871) I. 221 Of which we are very uncapable Judges.
6. = incapable a. 6.
1589Act 31 Eliz. c. 6 §2 Everie person, by whom..anye Monye..shalbe given or agreed to be payde,..shalbe uncapeable of that Place or Roome for that tyme or turne. 1602Hist. Eng. in Harl. Misc. (1809) II. 439 A notorious offender, exempt from the ordinary protection of the laws, uncapable of any preferment. 1678Sir G. Mackenzie Crim. Laws Scot. i. xvii. §10 (1699) 93 For though the Law make them uncapable to succeed as Heirs, yet it does not make them uncapable to receive a Disposition. 1706De Foe Jure Div. viii. 189 The League deposed Henry the IIId, and declar'd him a Tyrant, a Murtherer, and uncapable to Reign. 1726Swift Gulliver i. vi, The disbelief of a divine Providence renders a man uncapable of holding any public station.
Hence † unˈcapableness. Obs.
1611Cotgr., Incapacité,..incapacitie, vncapablenesse. 1612T. Taylor Comm. Titus iii. 6. 662 Oh let vs bewaile our owne vncapablenesse in the sence of our wants. 1657J. Watts Vind. Ch. Eng. 106 By reason of your uncapableness of them, by your ignorance. 1727Bailey (vol. II), Illacerableness, wholeness, or uncapableness of being torn. |