də̇ˈsābəl also -ˈzā- transitive verb
( disabled ; disabled ; disabling -b(ə)liŋ ; disables )
Etymology: Middle English disablen, from dis- (I) + able (adjective)
1. : to deprive of legal right or qualification : make legally incapable or incompetent : disqualify
2. : to make incapable or ineffective : incapacitate
heavy financial losses disabling him from the execution of his plans
disable a bomb
especially : to deprive of physical, moral, or intellectual strength
an English winter … disabled my mother like a mortal sickness — Sylvia T. Warner
disables the rich as completely as the poor — G.B.Shaw
3. obsolete
a. : to deprive of what gives value : impair in worth
I have disabled mine estate — Shakespeare
b. : to declare incompetent or invalid : disparage
he disabled my judgment — Shakespeare
Synonyms: see weaken