n. any orchid of the genus Disa, a genus of beautiful orchids with dark green leaves and usually hooded flowers; -- they are much prized as emblematic flowers in their native regions. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n.; pl. Disabilities 1. State of being disabled; deprivation or want of ability; absence of competent physical, intellectual, or moral power, means, fitness, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

Grossest faults, or disabilities to perform what was covenanted. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Chatham refused to see him, pleading his disability. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Want of legal qualification to do a thing; legal incapacity or incompetency. [ 1913 Webster ]

The disabilities of idiocy, infancy, and coverture. Abbott.

Syn. -- Weakness; inability; incompetence; impotence; incapacity; incompetency; disqualification. -- Disability, Inability. Inability is an inherent want of power to perform the thing in question; disability arises from some deprivation or loss of the needed competency. One who becomes deranged is under a disability of holding his estate; and one who is made a judge, of deciding in his own case. A man may decline an office on account of his inability to discharge its duties; he may refuse to accept a trust or employment on account of some disability prevents him from entering into such engagements. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Disabled p. pr. & vb. n. Disabling ] 1. To render unable or incapable; to destroy the force, vigor, or power of action of; to deprive of competent physical or intellectual power; to incapacitate; to disqualify; to make incompetent or unfit for service; to impair. [ 1913 Webster ]

A Christian's life is a perpetual exercise, a wrestling and warfare, for which sensual pleasure disables him. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

And had performed it, if my known offense
Had not disabled me. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have disabled mine estate. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) To deprive of legal right or qualification; to render legally incapable. [ 1913 Webster ]

An attainder of the ancestor corrupts the blood, and disables his children to inherit. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To deprive of that which gives value or estimation; to declare lacking in competency; to disparage; to undervalue. [ Obs. ] “He disabled my judgment.” Shak.

Syn. -- To weaken; unfit; disqualify; incapacitate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Lacking ability; unable. [ Obs. ] “Our disable and unactive force.” Daniel. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. injured so as to be unable to function; as, disabled veterans.
Syn. -- hors de combat, out of action. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

2. unable to function at normal capacity.
Syn. -- handicapped, incapacitated. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. Deprivation of ability; incapacity. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. causing or having caused disability; rendering disabled; as, disabling injury.
Syn. -- crippling, incapacitating. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. depriving of legal right; rendering legally disqualified; as, certain disabling restrictions disqualified him for citizenship. enabling
Syn. -- disqualifying. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Disabused p. pr. & vb. n. Disabusing. ] [ Pref. dis- + abuse; cf. F. désabuser. ] To set free from mistakes; to undeceive; to disengage from fallacy or deception; to set right; -- often used with of; as, to disabuse one of his illusions. [ 1913 Webster ]

To undeceive and disabuse the people. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

If men are now sufficiently enlightened to disabuse themselves or artifice, hypocrisy, and superstition, they will consider this event as an era in their history. J. Adams. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Pref. dis- + accommodate. ] To put to inconvenience; to incommode. [ R. ] Bp. Warburton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A state of being unaccommodated or unsuited. [ R. ] Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]