INCAPABIL'ITY

INCA'PABLE, adjective

1. Wanting capacity sufficient; not having room sufficient to contain or hold; followed by of. We say, a vessel is incapable of containing or holding a certain quantity of liquor; but I believe we rarely or never say, a vessel is incapable of that quantity.

2. Wanting natural power or capacity to learn, know, understand or comprehend. Man is incapable of comprehending the essence of the Divine Being. An idiot is incapable of learning to read.

3. Not admitting; not in a state to receive; not susceptible of; as, a bridge is incapable of reparation.

Is not your father grown incapable

Of reasonable affairs?

4. Wanting moral power or disposition. He is incapable of a dishonorable act.

5. Unqualified or disqualified, in a legal sense; not having the legal or constitutional qualifications. A man not thirty years of age is unqualified, and therefore incapable of holding the office of president of the United States; a man convicted on impeachment is disqualified, and therefore incapable of holding any office of honor or profit under the government.

Incapable properly denotes a want of passive power, the power of receiving, and is applicable particularly to the mind; unable denotes the want of active power or power of performing, and is applicable to the body or the mind. [See Incapacity.]