different between unable vs incommunicado

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?e?b?l/
• Rhymes: -e?b?l

Etymology 1

From Middle English unable, unabel, unhable, unhabil, equivalent to un- +? able.

Adjective

unable (comparative unabler or more unable, superlative unablest or most unable)

1. Not able; lacking a certain ability.

   Are you unable to mind your own business or something?

Antonyms

• able

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English unablen, equivalent to un- +? able.

Verb

unable (third-person singular simple present unables, present participle unabling, simple past and past participle unabled)

1. (transitive, nonstandard) To render unable; disable

Anagrams

• Buelna, Nabeul, nebula, unbale

English

Etymology

From Spanish incomunicado, with spelling influenced by such English words as communicate.

Pronunciation

(General American) IPA^(key): [?nk?mjun??k??do?]

Adjective

incommunicado (not comparable)

1. In a state or condition of inability or unwillingness to communicate.
   • 2007, "Dreadful news awaits housemate", Times Online, London, 25 May (retrieved 29 June 2007),

     The father of a woman living in the incommunicado world of the Big Brother house in Australia has died but his daughter has not been told.

   • 2017, "Hurricane Maria Does ‘Mind-Boggling’ Damage to Dominica, Leader Says", The New York Times, Mexico City, 19 August (retrieved 21 August 2017),

     As the storm, described by the National Hurricane Center as “potentially catastrophic,” moved toward the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Tuesday, little could be learned about the conditions on Dominica. By early Tuesday morning, phone and internet signals on Dominica appeared to be down, leaving the island virtually incommunicado.

Hyponyms

• off the grid

Adverb

incommunicado (not comparable)

1. In a manner in which communication with outsiders is not possible, for either voluntary or involuntary reasons, especially due to confinement or reclusiveness.
   • 2004, Ben Westhoff, "Making Traks," Riverfront Times, St. Louis MO, 7 Apr,

     The Starz seem most comfortable when they're in the studio, where they can work incommunicado.

References

• incommunicado at OneLook Dictionary Search
• Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary, 1987-1996.

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English incommunicado.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /in.k?.my.ni.ka.do/

Adverb

incommunicado

1. incommunicado