Contents

English

Wikipedia has articles on: Able Most common English words: care « war « short « #391: able » five » need » met

Etymology

From Old French habile, from Latin habilis, from habeō (“‘have, hold’”).

Pronunciation

Adjective

able (comparative abler, superlative ablest)

Positive able

Comparative abler

Superlative ablest
  1. (dated) Healthy.
    After the past week of forced marches, only half the men are fully able.
  2. Permitted to; not prevented from; having the power or capacity to.
    With that obstacle removed, I am now able to proceed with my plan.
    I’m only able to visit you when I have other work here.
    I’ll see you as soon as I’m able.
  3. Skillful.
    The chairman was also an able sailor.
  4. (law) Legally qualified or competent.
    In most states, such a person is not able to inherit property.

Derived terms

terms derived from able (adjective)

Verb

Infinitive to able

Third person singular ables

Simple past abled

Past participle abled

Present participle abling

to able (third-person singular simple present ables, present participle abling, simple past and past participle abled)

  1. (transitive, obsolete) To make capable; to enable; to strengthen.
  2. (transitive, obsolete) To vouch for.

Derived terms

Translations

make capable
  • Dutch: in staat stellen nl(nl) (tot nl(nl))
  • Greek: καθιστώ ικανό el(el)
vouch for
  • Dutch: instaan nl(nl) voor nl(nl)

Shorthand

Anagrams

French

Noun

able m. (plural ables)

  1. A vernacular name of the common bleak (usually called ablette).
  2. A vernacular name of the moderlieschen, also called able de Heckel.
  3. (rare) A vernacular name of some other related fishes in the genus Alburnus (Cyprinidae).

Anagrams

 

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