able
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈeɪ.bl̩/
ipa: [ˈeɪ̯.bɫ̩]
note: L-Vocalisation
ipa: [ˈeɪ̯.bw]
note: Indic
ipa: /ebl̩/
ipa: [eːbɐl]
ipa: [eːbɨɭ]
homophone: Abel (most accents)
rhymes: -eɪbəl
Forms: form: abler
form: ablest
form: hable
Etymology: From Middle English able, from Old Northern French able, variant of Old French abile, habile, from Latin habilis (“easily managed, held, or handled; apt; skillful”), from habeō (“have, possess”) + -ibilis.
Broadly ousted the native Old English magan, which has taken a different meaning.
Senses: examples: text: She is able to lift the box without assistance.
glosses: Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task.
examples: text: In a democratic world you'd be able to say what you thought wherever you were.
text: I'll see you as soon as I'm able.
text: With that obstacle removed, I am now able to proceed with my plan.
glosses: Free from constraints preventing completion of task; permitted to; not prevented from.
examples: text: The chairman was also an able sailor.
text: Natures that haue much Heat, and great and violent deſires and Perturbations, are not ripe for Action, till they haue paſſed the Meridian of their yeares: As it was with Iulius Cæſar, and Septimius Seuerus. […] And yet he [Septimus Severus] was the Ableſt Emperour, almoſt, of all the Liſt.
ref: 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Youth and Age. XLII.”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC, pages 247–248:
text: Urania speaks with darken’d brow:
⁠‘Thou pratest here where thou art least;
⁠This faith has many a purer priest,
And many an abler voice than thou: […]’
ref: 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXXVII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 57:
glosses: Gifted with skill, intelligence, knowledge, or competence.
examples: text: He is able to practice law in six states.
topics: law
glosses: Legally qualified or competent.
topics: nautical
transport
glosses: Capable of performing all the requisite duties; as an able seaman.
examples: text: After the past week of forced marches, only half the men are fully able.
glosses: Having the physical strength; robust; healthy.
examples: text: As the hands are the most habil parts of the body...
ref: 1710, Thomas Betterton, The life of Mr. Thomas Betterton, the late eminent tragedian.:
glosses: Easy to use.
examples: text: […] and for every able man servant that he or she shall carry or send armed and provided as aforesaid, ninety acres of land of like measure.
ref: 2006, Jon L. Wakelyn, America's Founding Charters: Primary Documents of Colonial and Revolutionary Era Governance, volume 1, Greenwood Publishing Group, page 212:
glosses: Suitable; competent.
glosses: Liable to.
examples: text: He was born to an able family.
glosses: Rich; well-to-do.
Derived terms: word: ability
word: able-bodied
word: able-bodism
word: able-bodyism
word: able-bodyist
word: ableism
word: ableist
word: able-minded
word: ablenationalism
word: ablenationalist
word: ableness
word: ablenormative
word: ablenormativity
word: able rating
word: able seaman
word: ablesplain
word: able whackets
word: ablings
word: ably
word: aiblins
english: to
translation: to
word: be able
word: differently able
word: disability
word: disable
word: disabled
word: disablism
word: enable
word: inable
word: reablement
word: transableism
word: unable
Related terms: -able
-ible