disabled English · revision 6836

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1444}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪsˈeɪb(ə)ld/^(SOED 2002)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the past participle of [[disable]], used as an adjective;^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) Barnhart analyses it as [[enm|dis-abled]], from the verb [[m|enm|ablen]], to make able or fit.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Legally disqualified: the mid-15th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) 1444 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The legal sense is now rare or obsolete.^(SOED 2002) The sense of being made incapable of action or use, especially of a person through injury or illness, is from 1633 in the OED and MWU,^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) the 1630s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) An earlier word for lacking physical ability or strength was ''unabled'', from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) ''The disabled'', used as a plural noun for disabled people as a group, is from 1916 in the OED, the early 20th century in SOED,^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) and the adjective in the sense of designed for the use of disabled people is from the late 20th century.^(SOED 2002) Collins notes that the collective ''the disabled'' is now often considered offensive.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1444 – legally disqualified.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1633 – rendered incapable of action, especially by injury.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1916 – ''the disabled'' as a collective noun.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 20th century – for the use of disabled people.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having a physical or mental [[condition]] that limits movement, the senses or activities; [[impaired]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Not working; [[inoperative]]: ''a disabled vehicle''.^(AHD)

+ # Designed for the use of disabled people.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Disabled people considered as a group, used with ''the''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[semidisabled]]

+ * [[nondisabled]]

+ * [[undisabled]]

+ * [[learning-disabled]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[able]]

+ * [[disable]]

+ * [[disability]]

+ * [[unable]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Collins advises describing a person's specific difficulty rather than speaking of ''the disabled'' as a group, which many find somewhat offensive.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}