ability
Use Ability in a sentence
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ɪ noun, plural a·bil·i·ties.
1.
power or capacity to do or act physically, mentally, legally, morally, financially, etc.
2.
competence in an activity or occupation because of one's skill, training, or other qualification: the ability to sing well.
3.
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
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 sub·a·bil·i·ties.
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.
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.
00:10
Ability
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
-ability
Origin:
Middle English -abilite ≪ Latin -ābilitās
Middle English -abilite ≪ Latin -ābilitās
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To ability
Collins
World English Dictionary
ability (əˈbɪlɪtɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n , pl -ties | |
| 1. | possession of the qualities required to do something; necessary skill, competence, or power: the ability to cope with a problem |
| 2. | considerable proficiency; natural capability: a man of ability |
| 3. | (plural) special talents |
| [C14: from Old French from Latin habilitās aptitude, handiness, from habilis | |
| -able | |
| —suffix forming adjectives | |
| 1. | capable of, suitable for, or deserving of (being acted upon as indicated): enjoyable; pitiable; readable; separable; washable |
| 2. | inclined to; given to; able to; causing: comfortable; reasonable; variable |
| [via Old French from Latin -ābilis,-ībilis, forms of -bilis, adjectival suffix] | |
| -ably | |
| —suffix forming adverbs | |
| -ability | |
| —suffix forming nouns | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
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.
-ability
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
They say all lovers swear more performance than they are able, and yet reserve an ability that they never perform.
Without new batteries and new gyroscopes it would lose both the power and the ability to point in the right direction.
The ability to spread underlies the killing power of cancer.
One of his favorite examples was the salmon's fantastic pathfinding ability.
Nearby Words
Synonyms
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