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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



56 words match “UNABLE”

NYCTALOPIA n.
in consequence of which the patient can see well in a faint light or at twilight, but is unable to see during the day or in a strong light; day blindness.
PENGUIN n.
t, thick feathers, almost scalelike on the wings, which are without true quills. They are unable to fly, but use their wings to aid in diving, in which they are very expert. See King penguin, under Jackass.
PIPE n.
l; any tube which produces musical sounds; as, a shepherd's pipe; the pipe of an organ. "Tunable as sylvan pipe." Milton. Now had he rather hear the tabor and the pipe. Shak.
PULL v.
o draw hither and thither. " Both are equally pulled and hauled to do that which they are unable to do. " South. -- To pull down, to demolish; to destroy; to degrade; as, to pull down a house. " In political affairs, as well as mechanical, it is easier to pull down than build up." Howell. " To raise the wretched, and…
RATTLE n.
The noise in the throat produced by the air in passing through mucus which the lungs are unable to expel; -- chiefly observable at the approach of death, when it is called the death rattle. See Râle. To spring a rattle, to cause it to sound. -- Yellow rattle (Bot.), a yellow-flowered herb (Rhinanthus Crista- galli), t…
RING n.
A chime, or set of bells harmonically tuned. As great and tunable a ring of bells as any in the world. Fuller.
SHORTSIGHTED a.
Fig.: Not able to look far into futurity; unable to understand things deep; of limited intellect.
STAND v.
on one has taken; to maintain one's position. "Pleasants and burghers, however brave, are unable to stand their ground against veteran soldiers." Macaulay. -- To stand trial, to sustain the trial or examination of a cause; not to give up without trial.
STENOSTOME a.
a small or narrow mouth; -- said of certain small ground snakes (Opoterodonta), which are unable to dilate their jaws.
SUSPEND v.
To cease from operation or activity; esp., to stop payment, or be unable to meet obligations or engagements (said of a commercial firm or a bank).
SWALLOW v.
To perform the act of swallowing; as, his cold is so severe he is unable to swallow.
TONGUE-TIED a.
Unable to speak freely, from whatever cause. Love, therefore, and tongue-tied simplicity. Shak.
UNABSORBABLE a.
Not absorbable; specifically (Physiol.), not capable of absorption; unable to pass by osmosis into the circulating blood; as, the unabsorbable portion of food.
UNCOMPREHENSIVE a.
Unable to comprehend. Narrow-spirited, uncomprehensive zealots. South.
UNSEAL v.
To break or remove the seal of; to open, as what is sealed; as, to unseal a letter. Unable to unseal his lips beyond the width of a quarter of an inch. Sir W. Scott.
WASTER n.
Half a dozen of veneys at wasters with a good fellow for a broken head. Beau. & Fl. Being unable to wield the intellectual arms of reason, they are fain to betake them unto wasters. Sir T. Browne.
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