able

¹

[ ey-buhl ]

adjective

, a·bler, a·blest.

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

suffix forming adjectives

1. capable of, suitable for, or deserving of (being acted upon as indicated)

   separable

   enjoyable

   pitiable

   washable

   readable

2. inclined to; given to; able to; causing

   comfortable

   variable

   reasonable

able

²

/ 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

Derived Forms

• -ably, suffix:forming_adverbs
• -ability, suffix:forming_nouns

Other Words From

• over·able adjective
• over·ab·ly adverb

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

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

Origin of able²

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

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

Researchers were able to uncover traces of natural selection -- signs of genetic adaptation to environmental pressures -- that are undetectable in the DNA of modern Europeans.

From Science Daily

Using their new method, they were able to produce proteins consisting of up to 1000 amino acids.

From Science Daily

The actor discusses how she was able to tap into the news and the presidential election for her role on the Netflix series, which featured a surprising twist in the Season 2 finale.

From Los Angeles Times

States that join the treaty may want to make sure that they themselves are able to prosecute all the crimes that it covers - otherwise the court may intervene.

From BBC

"You don't think they would be able to produce peaches," he says as he eyes the tightly-pruned rows.

From Salon

Related Words

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