Where does “disability” come from?
disability (English) comes from English disable, from English able, from Middle English able, from Old French able, from Latin habilis, from Latin -ilis, from Proto-Italic -elis, from Proto-Indo-European -elis — Forms agent nouns from verbal roots.
disability (English): State of being disabled; deprivation or want of...
Definitions
- State of being disabled; deprivation or want of...
Ancestry of “disability”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | disable | To render unable; to take away an ability of, as... |
| 2 | English | able | Easy to use; Suitable; competent; Liable to |
| 3 | Middle English | able | capable, expert, qualified, skilful, competent |
| 4 | Old French | able | able; capable |
| 5 | Latin | habilis | able to have/possess/maintain; having sufficient... |
| 6 | Latin | -ilis | -ile |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | -elis | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -elis | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -lós | Forms agent nouns from verbal roots |