incapable

Forms

incapable (plural incapables)^[1]

Etymology

It is from French in- + capable.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} The TLFi compares Christian Latin incapābilis (“that cannot be grasped or contained; incapable”), from which Wiktionary derives the word.^[2][1] capable is capābilis (“able to hold”), from capiō (“to take, hold”);^[4] Littré held that the French senses grew out of the Latin figurative sense “susceptible of”.^[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1464 as a legal term, “not fit to enjoy or exercise a right”, in a text on the English claims to the crown of France.^[2][3] The GLLF has an earlier spelling incappable about 1501 in the sense “incurable”.^[8]

Semantic evolution

The general sense “not able (to do something)” is found in Jean Bouchet in 1517, and about the same time the word was used of things, “not susceptible of” (1541), a sense now obsolete.^[2][5] Montaigne (1580–1581) used it of a moral impossibility, incapable de tout mal “incapable of any evil”.^[2][8]

The Académie records the absolute use, un homme incapable “an incompetent man”, in 1718.^[2] As a noun the word appears in the Civil Code (1803) for a person lacking legal capacity, and in Chateaubriand (1821) for an incompetent person: les incapables de la diplomatie.^[2][9]

Timeline

• 1464 – The legal sense.^[2]
• c. 1501 – Incappable “incurable”.^[8]
• 1517 – “Not able”, in Jean Bouchet.^[2]
• 1541 – Of things, “not susceptible of”.^[2]
• 1580–1581 – Montaigne uses it of moral impossibility.^[2][8]
• 1718 – The absolute use, in the Académie dictionary.^[2]
• 1803 – The noun in law, in the Civil Code.^[2]
• 1821 – The noun “incompetent person”, in Chateaubriand.^[2][9]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Incapable de: unable to, not in a state to: incapable de marcher.^[5][2]
2. Incapable de: morally unable to do something wrong: incapable de tricher.^[5][8]
3. Lacking the skill or ability required; incompetent.^[5][2]
4. (law) Not legally fit to enjoy or exercise a right.^[5][2]

Noun

1. An incompetent person: une bande d'incapables.^[5][1]
2. (law) A person lacking legal capacity.^[5][8]

Related words

• capable
• incapacité
• capacité

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 240a
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
9. ^ a b Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF