able

[ ey-buhl ]
/ ˈeɪ bəl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR able ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, a·bler, a·blest.

having necessary power, skill, resources, or qualifications; qualified: able to lift a two-hundred-pound weight; able to write music; able to travel widely; able to vote.
having unusual or superior intelligence, skill, etc.: an able leader.
showing talent, skill, or knowledge: an able speech.
legally empowered, qualified, or authorized.

noun

(usually initial capital letter) a code word formerly used in communications to represent the letter A.

Origin of able

1275–1325; Middle English < Middle French < Latin habilis handy, equivalent to hab(ēre) to have, hold + -ilis -ile

synonym study for able

1. Able, capable, competent all mean possessing adequate power for doing something. Able implies power equal to effort required: able to finish in time. Capable implies power to meet or fulfill ordinary requirements: a capable worker. Competent suggests power to meet demands in a completely satisfactory manner: a competent nurse.

OTHER WORDS FROM able

o·ver·a·ble, adjective o·ver·a·b·ly, adverb

Words nearby able

ablative, ablative absolute, ablator, ablaut, ablaze, able, able rating, able seaman, able-bodied, able-bodied seaman, abled

Definition for able (2 of 2)

-able

a suffix meaning “capable of, susceptible of, fit for, tending to, given to,” associated in meaning with the word able, occurring in loanwords from Latin (laudable); used in English as a highly productive suffix to form adjectives by addition to stems of any origin (teachable; photographable).
Also -ble, -ible.

Origin of -able

Middle English < Old French < Latin -ābilis, equivalent to -ā- final vowel of 1st conjugation v. stems + -bilis

Words related to able

good, adept, capable, apt, competent, easy, ready, adequate, strong, intelligent, smart, skilled, effective, efficient, responsible, prepared, keen, adroit, agile, alert

British Dictionary definitions for able (1 of 2)

able
/ (ˈeɪbəl) /

adjective

(postpositive) having the necessary power, resources, skill, time, opportunity, etc, to do something able to swim
capable; competent; talented an able teacher
law qualified, competent, or authorized to do some specific act

Word Origin for able

C14: ultimately from Latin habilis easy to hold, manageable, apt, from habēre to have, hold + -ilis -ile

British Dictionary definitions for able (2 of 2)

-able

suffix forming adjectives

capable of, suitable for, or deserving of (being acted upon as indicated) enjoyable; pitiable; readable; separable; washable
inclined to; given to; able to; causing comfortable; reasonable; variable

Derived forms of -able

-ably, suffix forming adverbs -ability, suffix forming nouns

Word Origin for -able

via Old French from Latin -ābilis, -ībilis, forms of -bilis, adjectival suffix