having necessary power, skill, resources, or qualifications; qualified: able to lift a two-hundred-pound weight; able to write music; able to travel widely; able to vote.
2.
having unusual or superior intelligence, skill, etc.: an able leader.
3.
showing talent, skill, or knowledge: an able speech.
4.
legally empowered, qualified, or authorized.
–noun
5.
(usually initial capital letter) a code word formerly used in communications to represent the letter A.
[Origin: 1275–1325; ME < MF < L habilis handy, equiv. to hab(ére) to have, hold + -ilis-ile]
—Synonyms 1. fit, fitted. Able,capable,competent all mean possessing adequate power for doing something. Able implies power equal to effort required: able to finish in time. Capable implies power to meet or fulfill ordinary requirements: a capable worker. Competent suggests power to meet demands in a completely satisfactory manner: a competent nurse. 2. talented; skilled, clever, ingenious. 3. apt.
Having sufficient power or resources to accomplish something: a singer able to reach high notes; a detergent able to remove stains.
Usage Problem Susceptible to action or treatment: The brakes were able to be fixed.
Especially capable or talented.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin habilis, from habēre, to handle; see ghabh- in Indo-European roots.]
a'bly (ā'blē) adv.
Usage Note: The construction able to takes an infinitive to show the subject's ability to accomplish an action: We were able to get a grant for the project. The new submarine is able to dive twice as fast as the older model. Some people think it should be avoided when the subject does not have an ability, as in sentences with passive constructions involving forms of the verb be:The problem was able to be solved by using a new lab technique. The reasoning here is that since the problem has no ability to accomplish an action, it is not able to do anything, and therefore able to should not be used. Presumably this ban would apply to similar words like capable and to negative words like unable and incapable. In such cases one can usually avoid the problem by using can or could: The problem could be solved.... Keep in mind, however, that passives with get ascribe a more active role to their subjects, and here one can use able to:He was able to get accepted by a top law school.
c.1365, from O.Fr. (h)able, from L. habilis "easily handled, apt," verbal adj. from habere "to hold" (see habit). "Easy to be held," hence "fit for a purpose." The silent h- was dropped in Eng. and resisted academic attempts to restore it 16c.-17c., but some derivatives acquired it (e.g. habiliment, habilitate), via Fr. Able-bodied first attested 1622.
"Able-whackets - A popular sea-game with cards, in which the loser is beaten over the palms of the hands with a handkerchief tightly twisted like a rope. Very popular with horny-fisted sailors." [Smyth, "Sailor's Word-Book," 1867]
(usually followed by 'to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something; "able to swim"; "she was able to program her computer"; "we were at last able to buy a car"; "able to get a grant for the project" [ant: unable]
2.
have the skills and qualifications to do things well; "able teachers"; "a capable administrator"; "children as young as 14 can be extremely capable and dependable"
3.
having inherent physical or mental ability or capacity; "able to learn"; "human beings are able to walk on two feet"; "Superman is able to leap tall buildings"
4.
having a strong healthy body; "an able seaman"; "every able-bodied young man served in the army"
Main Entry: able Function: adjective 1: possessed of needed powers or of needed resources to accomplish an objective <able to perform under the
contract> 2: having freedom from restriction or obligation or from conditions preventing an action <able to vote> 3: legally qualified :
possessed of legal competence <able to inherit property>
ABLElanguage A simple language for accountants. ["ABLE, The Accounting Language, Programming and Reference Manual," Evansville Data Proc Center, Evansville, IN, Mar 1975]. [Listed in SIGPLAN Notices 13(11):56 (Nov 1978)]. (1994-11-08)
A*bil"i*ty\, n.; pl. Abilities. [F. habilet['e], earlier spelling habilit['e] (with silent h), L. habilitas aptitude, ability, fr. habilis apt. See Able.] The quality or state of being able; power to perform, whether physical, moral, intellectual, conventional, or legal; capacity; skill or competence in doing; sufficiency of strength, skill, resources, etc.; -- in the plural, faculty, talent. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren. --Acts xi. 29. Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study. --Bacon. The public men of England, with much of a peculiar kind of ability. --Macaulay. Syn: Capacity; talent; cleverness; faculty; capability; efficiency; aptitude; aptness; address; dexterity; skill. Usage: Ability, Capacity. These words come into comparison when applied to the higher intellectual powers. Ability has reference to the active exercise of our faculties. It implies not only native vigor of mind, but that ease and promptitude of execution which arise from mental training. Thus, we speak of the ability with which a book is written, an argument maintained, a negotiation carried on, etc. It always something to be done, and the power of doing it. Capacity has reference to the receptive powers. In its higher exercises it supposes great quickness of apprehension and breadth of intellect, with an uncommon aptitude for acquiring and retaining knowledge. Hence it carries with it the idea of resources and undeveloped power. Thus we speak of the extraordinary capacity of such men as Lord Bacon, Blaise Pascal, and Edmund Burke. "Capacity," says H. Taylor, "is requisite to devise, and ability to execute, a great enterprise." The word abilities, in the plural, embraces both these qualities, and denotes high mental endowments.
A"ble\, a. [Comp. Abler; superl. Ablest.] [OF. habile, L. habilis that may be easily held or managed, apt, skillful, fr. habere to have, hold. Cf. Habile and see Habit.]1. Fit; adapted; suitable. [Obs.] A many man, to ben an abbot able. --Chaucer. 2. Having sufficient power, strength, force, skill, means, or resources of any kind to accomplish the object; possessed of qualifications rendering competent for some end; competent; qualified; capable; as, an able workman, soldier, seaman, a man able to work; a mind able to reason; a person able to be generous; able to endure pain; able to play on a piano. 3. Specially: Having intellectual qualifications, or strong mental powers; showing ability or skill; talented; clever; powerful; as, the ablest man in the senate; an able speech. No man wrote abler state papers. --Macaulay. 4. (Law) Legally qualified; possessed of legal competence; as, able to inherit or devise property. Note: Able for, is Scotticism. "Hardly able for such a march." --Robertson. Syn: Competent; qualified; fitted; efficient; effective; capable; skillful; clever; vigorous; powerful.
De*bil"i*ty\, n. [L. debilitas, fr. debilis weak, prob. fr. de- + habilis able: cf. F. d['e]bilit['e]. See Able, a.] The state of being weak; weakness; feebleness; languor. The inconveniences of too strong a perspiration, which are debility, faintness, and sometimes sudden death. --Arbuthnot. Syn: Debility, Infirmity, Imbecility. Usage: An infirmity belongs, for the most part, to particular members, and is often temporary, as of the eyes, etc. Debility is more general, and while it lasts impairs the ordinary functions of nature. Imbecility attaches to the whole frame, and renders it more or less powerless. Debility may be constitutional or may be the result or superinduced causes; Imbecility is always constitutional; infirmity is accidental, and results from sickness or a decay of the frame. These words, in their figurative uses, have the same distinctions; we speak of infirmity of will, debility of body, and an Imbecility which affects the whole man; but Imbecility is often used with specific reference to feebleness of mind.
Hab"it\n. [OE. habit, abit fr. habit fr. L. habitus state, appearance, dress, fr. habere to have, be in a condition; prob. akin to E. have. See Have, and cf. Able, Binnacle, Debt, Due, Exhibit, Malady.]1. The usual condition or state of a person or thing, either natural or acquired, regarded as something had, possessed, and firmly retained; as, a religious habit; his habit is morose; elms have a spreading habit; esp., physical temperament or constitution; as, a full habit of body. 2. (Biol.) The general appearance and manner of life of a living organism. 3. Fixed or established custom; ordinary course of conduct; practice; usage; hence, prominently, the involuntary tendency or aptitude to perform certain actions which is acquired by their frequent repetition; as, habit is second nature; also, peculiar ways of acting; characteristic forms of behavior. A man of very shy, retired habits. --W. Irving. 4. Outward appearance; attire; dress; hence, a garment; esp., a closely fitting garment or dress worn by ladies; as, a riding habit. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy. --Shak. There are, among the states, several of Venus, in different habits. --Addison. Syn: Practice; mode; manner; way; custom; fashion. Usage: Habit, Custom. Habit is a disposition or tendency leading us to do easily, naturally, and with growing certainty, what we do often; custom is external, being habitual use or the frequent repetition of the same act. The two operate reciprocally on each other. The custom of giving produces a habit of liberality; habits of devotion promote the custom of going to church. Custom also supposes an act of the will, selecting given modes of procedure; habit is a law of our being, a kind of "second nature" which grows up within us. How use doth breed a habit in a man ! --Shak. He who reigns . . . upheld by old repute, Consent, or custom. --Milton.
Have\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Had; p. pr. & vb. n. Having. Indic. present, I have, thou hast, he has; we, ye, they have.] [OE. haven, habben, AS. habben (imperf. h[ae]fde, p. p. geh[ae]fd); akin to OS. hebbian, D. hebben, OFries, hebba, OHG. hab?n, G. haben, Icel. hafa, Sw. hafva, Dan. have, Goth. haban, and prob. to L. habere, whence F. avoir. Cf. Able, Avoirdupois, Binnacle, Habit.]1. To hold in possession or control; to own; as, he has a farm. 2. To possess, as something which appertains to, is connected with, or affects, one. The earth hath bubbles, as the water has. --Shak. He had a fever late. --Keats. 3. To accept possession of; to take or accept. Break thy mind to me in broken English; wilt thou have me? --Shak. 4. To get possession of; to obtain; to get. --Shak. 5. To cause or procure to be; to effect; to exact; to desire; to require. It had the church accurately described to me. --Sir W. Scott. Wouldst thou have me turn traitor also? --Ld. Lytton. 6. To bear, as young; as, she has just had a child. 7. To hold, regard, or esteem. Of them shall I be had in honor. --2 Sam. vi. 22. 8. To cause or force to go; to take. "The stars have us to bed." --Herbert. "Have out all men from me." --2 Sam. xiii. 9. 9. To take or hold (one's self); to proceed promptly; -- used reflexively, often with ellipsis of the pronoun; as, to have after one; to have at one or at a thing, i. e., to aim at one or at a thing; to attack; to have with a companion. --Shak. 10. To be under necessity or obligation; to be compelled; followed by an infinitive. Science has, and will long have, to be a divider and a separatist. --M. Arnold. The laws of philology have to be established by external comparison and induction. --Earle. 11. To understand. You have me, have you not? --Shak. 12. To put in an awkward position; to have the advantage of; as, that is where he had him. [Slang] Note: Have, as an auxiliary verb, is used with the past participle to form preterit tenses; as, I have loved; I shall have eaten. Originally it was used only with the participle of transitive verbs, and denoted the possession of the object in the state indicated by the participle; as, I have conquered him, I have or hold him in a conquered state; but it has long since lost this independent significance, and is used with the participles both of transitive and intransitive verbs as a device for expressing past time. Had is used, especially in poetry, for would have or should have. Myself for such a face had boldly died. --Tennyson. To have a care, to take care; to be on one's guard. To have (a man) out, to engage (one) in a duel. To have done (with). See under Do, v. i. To have it out, to speak freely; to bring an affair to a conclusion. To have on, to wear. To have to do with. See under Do, v. t. Syn: To possess; to own. See Possess.
In`a*bil"i*ty\, n. [Pref. in- not + ability: cf. F. inhabilet['e]. See Able, and cf. Unable.] The quality or state of being unable; lack of ability; want of sufficient power, strength, resources, or capacity. It is not from an inability to discover what they ought to do, that men err in practice. --Blair. Syn: Impotence; incapacity; incompetence; weakness; powerlessness; incapability. See Disability.
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