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abilities

[uh-bil-i-tee]

noun, plural -ties.

power or capacity to do or act physically, mentally, legally, morally, financially, etc.

competence in an activity or occupation because of one's skill, training, or other qualification: the ability to sing well.

abilities, talents; special skills or aptitudes: Composing music is beyond his abilities.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English (h)abilite < Middle French < Latin habilitās aptitude, equivalent to habili(s) handy (see able) + -tās -ty²; replacing Middle English ablete < Old French < Latin, as above

Related forms

sub·a·bil·i·ty, noun, plural -ties.

Can be confused: ability, capability, capacity (see synonym note at the current entry).

Synonyms
1. capability; proficiency, expertness, dexterity. 2. Ability, faculty, talent denote qualifications or powers. Ability is a general word for power, native or acquired, enabling one to do things well: a person of great ability; ability in mathematics. Faculty denotes a natural ability for a particular kind of action: a faculty of saying what he means. Talent is often used to mean a native ability or aptitude in a special field: a talent for music or art.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Abilities is always a great word to know.

So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:

a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.

a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

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Example Sentences

One study found that problems with various mental abilities took an average of five to.

Demonstrated leadership abilities along with excellent planning, interpersonal and communication skills are required.

Males also have better spatial abilities than females.

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One study found that problems with various mental abilities took an average of five to.

Demonstrated leadership abilities along with excellent planning, interpersonal and communication skills are required.

Males also have better spatial abilities than females.

Researchers used high-speed cameras and slowed the video to study the jumping abilities of frogs.

Our abilities to do this peak-shifting visually may have evolved long ago in the earliest mammals or even before.

Moreover, sampling ink free of carbon from the parchment on which it sits is currently beyond our abilities.

Here you'll find unforgettable views and trails for skiers of all abilities.

Their unique behavior and amazing abilities are the impetus for fascinating research.

Everyone benefits when patients are able to function as independently as possible to the best of their abilities.

If you act confident in your abilities, students will have confidence in your abilities.

Alex might have evolved advanced cognitive abilities.

But what really fascinates, and confounds, scientists is the emperor penguin's abilities as a deep-sea diver.

Joints ache, or vision fails, and or maybe cognitive abilities falter.

Forest offers cross-country skiing lessons and terrain suitable for all ages and abilities.

Of special note though is the fact that each character can earn special abilities for use in combat.

Scientists are reporting that fruit bats have more control over these echolocation abilities than previously thought.

However, one of the highest barriers to your vision is the lack of computer abilities in teachers.

Lucky there are countless routes up the iconic peak for climbers of all abilities.

The role of perceptual, cognitive and motor abilities in street-crossing decisions of young and older pedestrians.

It was determined the crows actually had facial-recognition abilities.

The transition only takes a couple seconds and you're back in the game with different abilities.

The abilities that matter more are turning out to be the abilities that are also fundamental sources of human gratification.

It intends to beef up the graphics abilities of its processors and will one day start selling specialised graphics chips.

Only when they are on their own do they demonstrate their hunting abilities.

We all know alcohol impairs a person's reasoning abilities.

Swap characters to gain their special abilities or drop two on the portal for multi-player.

I've been devoting myself to studying the abilities and the behaviors of whales and dolphins since.

Italians swing between extreme suspicion of their rulers and extreme confidence in the abilities of one man.

So far, research on captive birds has demonstrated the species' remarkable cognitive and tool-making abilities.

Consequently, a third test was necessary to see if these abilities could have been learnt.

Seafarers have long been aware of their aeronautical abilities.

The remote site draws pilgrims who hope to bathe in hot springs that are renowned for their healing abilities.

Scientists have long been fascinated by the species and have probed its impressive electrical abilities.

But the law also implies a limit to manufacturers' abilities to scale down electronics.

So far, it talks a lot, but without saying much about anything except its own undeniably dazzling abilities.

They also rate themselves lower in leadership abilities than do their peers whose parents attended college.

So-called mirror neurons in the brain mimic other people's movements and help stroke victims regain lost abilities.

Her abilities are limited because her total brainpower, compared to humans, is limited.

Its priests are chefs with seemingly mystical abilities to summon fresh fish from all corners of the globe.

Applicants must have demonstrated abilities to conduct research and publish in their area of interest.

Consequently, a third test was necessary to see if these abilities could have been learned.

Music fine-tunes certain language abilities in the brain, new research shows.

Birds' rhythmic abilities offer clues to the origins of dance.

Naive hero is convinced he has amazing abilities and must defend against evil-doers at every turn.

Here are some hints on handling brushes and rollers that may improve your abilities with both tools.

We seek individuals whose research and teaching abilities are among the highest caliber.

His abilities were soon clear, and within ten years he was in the cabinet.

But that's not where the burrowing rodent's abilities end.

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder in which previously normal cognitive abilities and behaviors becomes disturbed.

And those same innate abilities let them hold more than one language in their head.

Her slightly-too-brainy work trades on our well-honed abilities to read photographs, but is both impressive and promising.

Some candidates focus on their abilities or areas of knowledge, while others emphasize the positions they've held.

There was no doubt that some individuals with autism have one or more remarkable talents far ahead of the rest of their abilities.

Someone else can have a common pet that has similar abilities or different types.

People lose their capacity to perform simple, everyday tasks and show impairments in intellectual abilities such as planning.

You'll have to use these abilities to hunt down the serial killer that may or may not have killed her brother.

Sony has two new models that combine audio features with full-service navigational abilities.

Even so, many whites grumble sotto voce that incompetent blacks are being promoted beyond their abilities.

Matsuzawa, a pioneer in studying the mental abilities of chimps, said even he was surprised.

If a biotic's natural abilities are cultivated properly, he.

Secret roles and special abilities combine with a well balanced card set to create an intriguing and addictive experience.

The athletes were given tests of their mental abilities before the season and were tested after a concussion.

Every society produces a number of individuals with entrepreneurial propensities and natural abilities.

Kamil studies how cognitive abilities evolved and how birds use these skills in nature.

They can understand our emotive intensions and limitations and respond according to their abilities and intensions.

Considering the advanced technical abilities of our readers, we're.

Interpersonal abilities involves learning how to work on teams, teach others and negotiate.

The references are a small test of your management abilities.

English-based scientists are developing a bio-camouflage system based on the color-generating abilities of cuttlefish.

If they ever had the ability to walk or speak, they lose those abilities.

Between stages, players can upgrade their characters' abilities to suit their style of.

She was a woman of impeccable taste and possessed many talents and numerous abilities.

It is an accident because it is the consequence of abilities that evolved for other purposes.

The shape, growth and abilities of these cells closely matched those of stem cells derived from other techniques.

Doing so will intermittently lead to the discovery of additional abilities and upgrades that will aid you in further exploration.

They recovered their abilities when the threat had.

They have also become far more dependent for their success or failure on the abilities of their own local leaders.

But one kind of lowly sea slug actually has the solar power abilities of.

Seriously, graduates with such education, abilities and contacts should think of something really important.

The sophisticated sensory abilities that help these animals survive.

Heavy-breathing television ads, hyping the nascent command's abilities and scope, only added to the confusion.

Some of the animals studied and the findings on their cognitive abilities are listed below.

It seems to me that his illness is greatly related to his life experiences, his lack of social abilities and his life crisis.

The marine mammals would use their speed and underwater sensing abilities to look for dog-paddling adversaries.

The amazing abilities of the human brain are endlessly fascinating.

Attorney's office is working on improving its forensic abilities so that future scofflaws will not get off so easy, he said.

The only other bird that comes close to matching the great snipe's abilities is the godwit, a wading bird.

John believes it will keep its germ-killing abilities for up to three years but says it could be longer.

Many officers remain confused about the destroyer's abilities and intended use.

Aspen's four mountains are world-famous, with terrains that can accommodate skiers of all abilities.

Within two weeks my intellectual abilities were restored to levels preceding my illnesses.

These learned extraordinary abilities raise the question of the untapped potential of the human brain.

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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

ability

late 14c., from O.Fr. ableté "expert at handling (something)," from L. habilitatem (nom. habilitas) "aptitude," from habilis "easy to manage, handy" (see able). One case where a silent L. -h- failed to make a return in Eng. (despite efforts of 16c.-17c. scholars); see H.

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Matching Quote

"[In early adolescence] she becomes acutely aware of herself as a being perceived by others, judged by others, though she herself is the harshest judge, quick to list her physical flaws, quick to undervalue and under-rate herself not only in terms of physical appearance but across a wide range of talents, capacities and even social status, whereas boys of the same age will cite their abilities, their talents and their social status pretty accurately."

-Terri Apter

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