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

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

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

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