able

• (obsolete) hable

• (US) MFA^(ključ): /ˈeɪ.bl̩/, /ˈeɪ.bəl/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rime: -eɪbəl
• Homophone: Abel

From Srednji Engleski able, from Lua greška in Modul:parameters at line 290: Parameter 2 should be a valid language, etymology language or family code; the value "ONF." is not valid. See WT:LOL, WT:LOL/E and WT:LOF.., variant of Stari Francuski abile, habile, from Latinski habilis (“easily managed, held, or handled; apt; skillful”), from habeō (“have, possess”) +‎ -ibilis.

able (comparative abler, superlative ablest)

1. Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]^[1]
2. Free from constraints preventing completion of task; permitted to; not prevented from. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]^[1]

   I’ll see you as soon as I’m able.

   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.

   That cliff is able to be climbed.

3. Gifted with skill, intelligence, knowledge, or competence. [First attested in the mid 16^th century.]^[1]

   The chairman was also an able sailor.

   • 1625, Francis Bacon, “Of Youth and Age. XLII.”, in The Essayes or Covncils, Civill and Moral, […] Newly Written, London: Printed by Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC; newly enlarged edition, London: Printed by Iohn Haviland, […], 1632, →OCLC, pages 247–248:

     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.

4. (law) Legally qualified or competent. [First attested in the early 18^th century.]^[1]

   He is able to practice law in six states.

5. (nautical) Capable of performing all the requisite duties; as an able seaman. [First attested in the late 18^th century.]^[1]
6. (obsolete, dialectal) Having the physical strength; robust; healthy. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]^[1]

   After the past week of forced marches, only half the men are fully able.

7. (obsolete) Easy to use. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the mid 18^th century.]^[1]
   • 1710, Thomas Betterton, The life of Mr. Thomas Betterton, the late eminent tragedian.:

     As the hands are the most habil parts of the body...

8. (obsolete) Suitable; competent. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the late 18^th century.]^[1]
   • 2006, Jon L. Wakelyn, America's Founding Charters: Primary Documents of Colonial and Revolutionary Era Governance, volume 1, Greenwood Publishing Group, page 212:

     […] 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. (obsolete, dialectal) Liable to. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]^[1]
10. (obsolete) Rich; well-to-do. [Attested from the mid 16^th century until the late 19^th century.]^[1]

    He was born to an able family.

• In standard English, one is "able to do something". In some older texts representing various dialects, particularly Irish English, or black speech, "able for do something" is found instead, and in some Caribbean dialects "able with" is sometimes found.^[2][3]

• See also Thesaurus:skillful

From Srednji Engleski ablen, from Srednji Engleski able (adjective).^[4]

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

1. (transitive, obsolete) To make ready. [Attested from around (1150 to 1350) until the late 16^th century.]^[1]
2. (transitive, obsolete) To make capable; to enable. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the late 19^th century.]^[1]
3. (transitive, obsolete) To dress. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the late 15^th century.]^[1]
4. (transitive, obsolete) To give power to; to reinforce; to confirm. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the mid 17^th century.]^[1]
5. (transitive, obsolete) To vouch for; to guarantee. [Attested from the late 16^th century until the early 17^th century.]^[1]
   • Šablon:RQ:Shakespeare King Lear

• abled

From the first letter of the word. Suggested in the 1916 United States Army Signal Book to distinguish the letter when communicating via telephone,^[5] and later adopted in other radio and telephone signal standards.

able (uncountable)

1. (military) The letter "A" in Navy Phonetic Alphabet.

• Abel, Bale, Beal, Blea, Ebla, Elba, albe, bael, bale, beal, blea ^{(alphagram abel)}

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• Audio:

  (file)

able m (plural ables)

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

• “able” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

• Abel, Bâle, béal, bêla

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• hable

From Stari Francuski able, habile, from Latinski habilis.

• MFA^(ključ): /ˈaːbəl/

Šablon:enm-adj

1. capable, expert, qualified, skilful, competent.

• Engleski: able
• Škotski: able

• “āble” in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

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• abile
• abille
• habile

From Latinski habilis.

• MFA^(ključ): /ˈablə/

able m (oblique and nominative feminine singular able)

1. able; capable

• Francuski: habile
  • → Rumunski: abil
• → Middle Dutch: abel
  • Holandski: abel
• → Srednji Engleski: able, habil
  • Engleski: able, habile
    • → Velški: abl

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From Srednji Engleski able, from Stari Francuski able, habile, from Latinski habilis.

• abel, awbel, yible

• MFA^(ključ): /ebl/
• (South) MFA^(ključ): /jɪbl/
• (North) MFA^(ključ): /ɑːbl/

able (comparative abler, superlative ablest)

1. (obsolete) well-to-do, rich
2. substantial
3. physically fit, strong
4. shrewd, cute, clever

• “able, adj.” in the Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries.

able (not comparable)

1. Alternative form of aible (“perhaps”)

• “able, adv.” in the Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries.