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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Inhability(e, n. Also: inhabilitie, -é, -ey, inhabelitie, inhabilatie. [med. L. inhabilitas, F. inhabilité, e.m.E. inhabillite (1588): cf. Inabilitie n., Inhibilitie.]

1. Inability, in usual senses; incapacity, unfitness, incompetence. 1562-3 Winȝet I. 7/3.
Afore thay dayis na man … , for feir of conscience and doubt of his inhabilitie, wald resaue the office of ane pastour 1563 Calderwood in R. Keith Hist. 528.
Mr. Robert Pont … confessed his inhabilitie in respect of the laicke of the Irish tongue 1576 Digest Justiciary Proc. I. 10.
To preiwe the said Androis inhabilitie to travell 1617 Acts IV. 548/1.
All persounes … convict of drunkines … sall … pay thrie pundis or incace of inhabilitye … to be put in joggis 1659 Irvine Mun. II. 81.
Upone consideratione of the inhabilitie of thair aun burrow mylnes aforsaids to serve the said sucken … throw the want of water 1692 Presb. Eloq. (ed. 2) 61.
It was that parliament which took upon them to judge of the hability of these sixty, and of the inhability of other presbyters to govern

b. Physical incapacity, infirmity. 1547 Misc. Spald. C. II. 203.
Throw his aige and inhabilitie of his persone 1585 Edinb. Test. XIV. 193.
I can nocht subscriue this my testament becaus of the inhabilitie in my handis 1593 Maxwell Mem. II. 168.
My inhabilitie and auld eage 1637 Kirkcaldy Presb. 121.
In respect of thair ministers inhabilitie, having gotten ane fall

c. Lack of means or resources; financial incapacity. 1615 Highland P. III. 229.
The saidis burrowis … in respect of thair pouertye and inhabilitye hoipis his maiestie … will not impoise [etc.] 1646 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 62.
The saids provest [etc,] … pondering the necessitie of the wark, with the inhabilitie and weaknes of this toun

2. Legal disqualification, the loss of legal rights. 1441 Coldingham Priory cxxxiii. 117.
Of payn of cursyng and inhabilite 1488 Liber Melros 618.
Vnder the pane of mansueryng, inhabilitey and infame 1488 Acts II. 210/1.
At the ordinaris dispon apoun thar vtheris beneficis for the inhabilite of thar personis 1521 Stirling B. Rec. I. 10.
Under the pane of maensweiring, defamacion and inhabilite c1575 Balfour Pract. 22.
Quhilk inhabilitie being alledgit aganis ony jugeis, ... memberis of court, ... or witnessis 1576 Reg. Soltre 231.
The provest and chaptour decernit the samyn [beadsmanship] vacand … be inhabilatie of the samyn nocht keipand the tennour of the fundatioun