able
adjectiveverbnountop 1 000 in film dialogue
- United States//ˈeɪ.bl̩//
- United States/[ˈeɪ̯.bɫ̩]/
- India/[eːbɐl]/
- /[ˈeɪ̯.bw]/
- //ebl̩//
Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task.
adjective
- 1
Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task.
She is able to lift the box without assistance.
- 2
Free from constraints preventing completion of task; permitted to; not prevented from.
In a democratic world you'd be able to say what you thought wherever you were.
I'll see you as soon as I'm able.
With that obstacle removed, I am now able to proceed with my plan.
- 3
Gifted with skill, intelligence, knowledge, or competence.
The chairman was also an able sailor.
Natures that haue much Heat, and great and violent deſires and Perturbations, are not ripe for Action, till they haue paſſed the Meridian of their yeares: As it was with Iulius Cæſar, and Septimius Seuerus. […] And yet he [Septimus Severus] was the Ableſt Emperour, almoſt, of all the Liſt.
Urania speaks with darken’d brow: ‘Thou pratest here where thou art least; This faith has many a purer priest, And many an abler voice than thou: […]’
- 4
Legally qualified or competent.
He is able to practice law in six states.
- 5
Capable of performing all the requisite duties; as an able seaman.
- 6
obsoleteHaving the physical strength; robust; healthy.
After the past week of forced marches, only half the men are fully able.
- 7
obsoleteEasy to use.
As the hands are the most habil parts of the body...
- 8
obsoleteSuitable; competent.
[…] and for every able man servant that he or she shall carry or send armed and provided as aforesaid, ninety acres of land of like measure.
- 9
obsoleteLiable to.
- 10
obsoleteRich; well-to-do.
He was born to an able family.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti Proto-Indo-European *gʰh₁bʰéh₁yeti Proto-Italic *haβēō Latin habeō Proto-Indo-European *-elis Proto-Italic *-elis Latin -ilis Latin habilis Old French ablebor. Middle English able English able From Middle English able, from Old Northern French able, variant of Old French abile, habile, from Latin habilis (“easily managed, held, or handled; apt; skillful”). Doublet of habile.
verb
- 1
obsoleteTo make ready.
- 2
obsoleteTo make capable; to enable.
- 3
obsoleteTo dress.
- 4
obsoleteTo give power to; to reinforce; to confirm.
- 5
obsoleteTo vouch for; to guarantee.
None does offend, none....I’ll able ’em.
- 6
Also a form of canpresent participle and gerund of can
I might be able to go.
I have been able to go, since I was seven.
I had been able to go before.
I will be able to go tomorrow.
Etymology
From Middle English ablen, from Middle English able (adjective).
noun
- 1
The letter "A" in Navy Phonetic Alphabet.
Etymology
From the first letter of the word. Suggested in the 1916 United States Army Signal Book to distinguish the letter when communicating via telephone, and later adopted in other radio and telephone signal standards.
Forms
- comparative
- abler
- superlative
- ablest
- past tense
- abled
- past participle
- abled
- present participle
- abling
- third person singular
- ables
able · Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task.
Able · radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter A.Abner · A cousin of Saul mentioned in the Old Testament.abnormal · Not conforming to rule or system; deviating from the usual or…