able
[ ey-buhl ]
/ ˈeɪ bəl /
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
SYNONYMS FOR able
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, adverbWords nearby able
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).
Origin of -able
Middle English < Old French < Latin
-ābilis, equivalent to
-ā- final vowel of 1st conjugation v. stems +
-bilis
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 nounsWord Origin for -able
via Old French from Latin
-ābilis,
-ībilis, forms of
-bilis, adjectival suffix