able

¹

[ey-buhl]

adjective

abler, ablest 

1. 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.

   Synonyms: fitted, fit
   Antonyms: incompetent

2. having unusual or superior intelligence, skill, etc..

   an able leader.

   Synonyms: ingenious, clever, skilled, talented

3. showing talent, skill, or knowledge.

   an able speech.

   Synonyms: apt

4. legally empowered, qualified, or authorized.

noun

1. Usually Able a code word formerly used in communications to represent the letter A.

-able

²

1. a suffix meaning “capable of, susceptible of, fit for, tending to, given to,” associated in meaning with the word able, occurring in loanwords from Latin (laudable ); used in English as a highly productive suffix to form adjectives by addition to stems of any origin (teachable; photographable ).

able

¹

/ ˈeɪbəl /

adjective

1. (postpositive) having the necessary power, resources, skill, time, opportunity, etc, to do something

   able to swim

2. capable; competent; talented

   an able teacher

3. law qualified, competent, or authorized to do some specific act

-able

²

suffix

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

Other Word Forms

• overable adjective
• overably adverb
• -ably suffix
• -ability suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of able¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin habilis “handy,” equivalent to hab(ēre) “to have, hold” + -ilis adjective suffix; -ile

Origin of able²

Middle English < Old French < Latin -ābilis, equivalent to -ā- final vowel of 1st conjugation v. stems + -bilis

Word History and Origins

Origin of able¹

C14: ultimately from Latin habilis easy to hold, manageable, apt, from habēre to have, hold + -ilis _-ile

Origin of able²

via Old French from Latin -ābilis, -ībilis, forms of -bilis, adjectival suffix

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Apple and Google offer these reports because they like to be able to show regulators, politicians, and the public that they take digital health somewhat seriously.

From Slate

He weaves in Aishe’s childhood memories of her father, with her Uyghur language narration addressed to him, as she asks imploring questions of a man who will never be able to answer.

From Los Angeles Times

The party has long claimed it will be able to make considerable government savings from entirely scrapping attempts by the government to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

From BBC

What’s more, they’re intimately knowledgeable of history, able to yank references from the past and stress their pertinence to our present.

From Salon

He told the court: "I felt he was able to get away with a lot of his activities because he was almost like a Twitter avatar floating around with no real connection to the earth."

From BBC

Related Words

• adept 
• apt 
• capable 
• competent 
• proficient 
• skilled