able
pronunciation
How to pronounce able in British English:
UK [ˈeɪbl]
How to pronounce able in American English:
US [ˈeɪbl]
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- Adjective:
- (usually followed by `to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
- have the skills and qualifications to do things well
- having inherent physical or mental ability or capacity
- having a strong healthy body
Word Origin
- able
- able: [14] Able and ability both come ultimately from the Latin verb habēre ‘have’ or ‘hold’. From this the Latin adjective habilis developed, meaning literally ‘convenient or suitable for holding on to’, and hence in more general terms ‘suitable’ or ‘apt’, and later, more positively, ‘competent’ or ‘expert’. It came into English via Old French, bringing with it the noun ablete ‘ability’. This was later reformed in English, on the model of its Latin source habilitās, to ability.=> habit
- able (adj.)
- early 14c., from Old French (h)able (14c.), from Latin habilem, habilis "easily handled, apt," verbal adjective from habere "to hold" (see habit). "Easy to be held," hence "fit for a purpose." The silent h- was dropped in English and resisted academic attempts to restore it 16c.-17c. (see H), but some derivatives (such as habiliment, habilitate) acquired it via French.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]
Example
- 1. Presidents have generally been able to avoid difficult reforms .
- 2. He was even able to build his own home .
- 3. He is an able skewerer of sloppy thinking .
- 4. I haven 't been able to come up with anything yet .
- 5. They just weren 't able to translate their vision into a viable business .