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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary un·able
\\ˌən-ˈā-bəl\\ adjective DATE 14th century : not able : incapable : as
a. unqualified , incompetent
b. impotent , helpless unable
unable (adj.)
c.1380, from un- (1) "not" + able. Modeled on O.Fr. inhabile or L. inhabilis. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 ☞ unableun·able / Qn5eibl / adjective [not before noun]
~ to do sth (rather formal) not having the skill, strength, time, knowledge, etc. to do sth 没有所需技能(或力量、时间、知识等)；未能；无法:
He lay there, unable to move. 他躺在那里动弹不得。
I tried to contact him but was unable to. 我试着跟他联系,却没联系上。
OPP able Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishunable
adj. VERBS appear, be, feel, look, prove, seem | become | remain | find yourself, leave sb, make sb She found herself unable to meet his gaze. The accident left him unable to walk. | deem sth The road was deemed unable to cope with increased traffic. ADV. completely, quite, totally, utterly, wholly | increasingly | almost, nearly, virtually | apparently, seemingly He went on, apparently unable to stop. | genuinely | generally | temporarily Clare nodded, temporarily unable to speak. | still | constitutionally, physically He seemed constitutionally unable not to give his opinion on anything and everything. PHRASES unwilling or unable He remained silent, unwilling or unable to say what was in his mind. Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged unableI. un·able \|ən+\ adjectiveEtymology: Middle English, from un- (I) + able, adjective 1. : not able : incapable
< the sun is unable to melt the snow down to this underlying part — American Guide Series: New Hampshire >2.
a. : unqualified , incompetent , inefficient
b. : impotent , helpless
< like an unable phoenix in hot ashes — Time >II. un·a·ble \ˌəˈnābəl\ transitive verbEtymology: Middle English unablen, probably from un- (II) + ablen to enable — more at able : disable , incapacitate < so unabled by the gout that she cannot dress herself — Samuel Johnson >
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