able
Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task.
Adjective
- Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task.
- She is able to lift the box without assistance.
- Free from constraints preventing completion of task; permitted to; not prevented from.
- In a democratic world you'd be able to say what you thought wherever you were.
- I'll see you as soon as I'm able.
- With that obstacle removed, I am now able to proceed with my plan.
- Gifted with skill, intelligence, knowledge, or competence.
- The chairman was also an able sailor.
- 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...
- 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: […]’ - 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXXVII”, in In Memoriam,...
- Legally qualified or competent.
- He is able to practice law in six states.
- Capable of performing all the requisite duties; as an able seaman.
- Having the physical strength; robust; healthy.
- After the past week of forced marches, only half the men are fully able.
- Easy to use.
- As the hands are the most habil parts of the body... - 1710, Thomas Betterton, The life of Mr. Thomas Betterton, the late eminent tragedian.:
- Suitable; competent.
- […] 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. - 2006, Jon L. Wakelyn, America's Founding Charters: Primary Documents of...
- Liable to.
- Rich; well-to-do.
- He was born to an able family.
Origin
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti Proto-Indo-European *gʰh₁bʰéh₁yeti Proto-Italic *haβēō Latin habeō Proto-Indo-European *-elis Proto-Italic *-elis Latin -ilis Latin habilis Old French ablebor. Middle English able English able 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”). Doublet of habile.
Forms
Related
Derived
ability able-bodied able-bodism able-bodyism able-bodyist ableism ableist able-minded ablenationalism ablenationalist ableness ablenormative ablenormativity able rating able seaman ablesplain able whackets ablings ably aiblins be able differently able disability disable
Noun
- The letter "A" in Navy Phonetic Alphabet.
Origin
From the first letter of the word. Suggested in the 1916 United States Army Signal Book to distinguish the letter when communicating via telephone, and later adopted in other radio and telephone signal standards.
Forms
Verb
- To make ready.
- To make capable; to enable.
- To dress.
- To give power to; to reinforce; to confirm.
- To vouch for; to guarantee.
- None does offend, none....I’ll able ’em. - c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
- present participle and gerund of can
- I might be able to go.
- I have been able to go, since I was seven.
- I had been able to go before.
Origin
From Middle English ablen, from Middle English able (adjective).