ability
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /əˈbɪl.ə.ti/
ipa: /əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/
note: Indic
ipa: /ɛb(ɨ)ˈlɪʈi/
note: Indic
ipa: /əb(ɨ)ˈlɪʈi/
rhymes: -ɪlɪti
Forms: form: abilities
form: abilitie
form: hability
form: habilitie
Etymology: First attested in the 1300s. From Middle English abilite (“suitability, aptitude, ability”), from Old French ableté, from Latin habilitās (“aptness, ability”), from habilis (“apt, fit, skillful, able”); equivalent to able + -ity.
Senses: glosses: Suitableness.
examples: text: This phone has the ability to have its software upgraded wirelessly.
text: This wood has the ability to fight off insects, fungus, and mold for a considerable time.
text: Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16. Charging school fees is illegal, and so is sorting pupils into ability groups by streaming or setting.
ref: 2013 July 19, Peter Wilby, “Finland spreads word on schools”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 30:
glosses: The quality or state of being able; capacity to do or of doing something; having the necessary power.
examples: text: The ability to shift profits to low-tax countries by locating intellectual property in them, which is then licensed to related businesses in high-tax countries, is often assumed to be the preserve of high-tech companies.
ref: 2013 June 22, “T time”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 68:
glosses: The legal wherewithal to act.
qualifier: now limited to Scotland dialects
glosses: Physical power.
glosses: Financial ability.
glosses: A unique power of the mind; a faculty.
examples: text: a mixed-ability class
text: They are persons of ability, who will go far in life.
text: She has an uncanny ability to defuse conflict.
text: Then the disciples, euery man according to his abilitie, determined to send reliefe vnto the brethren which dwelt in Iudea.
ref: 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 11:29:
text: The public men of England, with much of a peculiar kind of ability
ref: 1848, Thomas Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James II:
text: Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study -
ref: 1884, Francis Bacon, Of Studies:
text: The most persistent tormentor was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored a hat-trick in last month’s corresponding fixture in Iceland. His ability to run at defences is instantly striking, but it is his clever use of possession that has persuaded some shrewd judges that he is an even better prospect than Theo Walcott.
ref: 2011 November 10, Jeremy Wilson, “England Under 21 5 Iceland Under 21 0: match report”, in Telegraph:
glosses: A skill or competence in doing; mental power; talent; aptitude.
Synonyms: sense: quality or state of being able
word: capacity
sense: quality or state of being able
word: faculty
sense: quality or state of being able
word: capability
sense: a skill or competence
word: skill
sense: high level of skill or capability
word: talent
sense: high level of skill or capability
word: cleverness
sense: high level of skill or capability
word: dexterity
sense: high level of skill or capability
word: aptitude
sense: suitability or receptiveness to be acted upon
word: capability
sense: suitability or receptiveness to be acted upon
word: faculty
sense: suitability or receptiveness to be acted upon
word: capacity
sense: suitability or receptiveness to be acted upon
word: aptness
sense: suitability or receptiveness to be acted upon
word: aptitude
Derived terms: ability grouping
ability to pay
diffability
entransy
Motability
nonability
notability
subability
superability
transability
Related terms: able