Able Definition

ābəl
abler, ablest
adjective
abler, ablest
Having sufficient power or resources to accomplish something.
A singer able to reach high notes; a detergent able to remove stains.
American Heritage
Having enough power, skill, etc. to do something.
Able to read.
Webster's New World
Susceptible to action or treatment.
The brakes were able to be fixed.
American Heritage
Having much power of mind; skilled; talented.
An able teacher.
Webster's New World
Especially capable or proficient.
The new programmers proved to be very able.
American Heritage
suffix
Susceptible, capable, or worthy of a specified action.
Debatable.
American Heritage
Inclined or given to a specified state or action.
Changeable.
American Heritage

An adjectival suffix; forms adjectives meaning:

Wiktionary
affix
That can or will.
Perishable.
Webster's New World
Capable of being ____ed.
Manageable.
Webster's New World
Worthy of being ____ed.
Lovable.
Webster's New World
Having qualities of.
Comfortable.
Webster's New World
Tending or inclined to.
Peaceable.
Webster's New World
verb
(obsolete) To make ready. [Attested from around (1150 to 1350) until the late 16th century.]
Wiktionary

(obsolete) To make capable; to enable. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the late 19th century.]

Wiktionary
(obsolete) To dress. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the late 15th century.]
Wiktionary
(obsolete) To give power to; to reinforce; to confirm. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the mid 17th century.]
Wiktionary
(obsolete) To vouch for; to guarantee. [Attested from the late 16th century until the early 17th century.]
Wiktionary
noun
A word that is used in place of the letter "A" during communication.
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Able

Adjective

Base Form:
able
Comparative:
abler
Superlative:
ablest

Origin of Able

  • From Middle English, from Old Northern French able, variant of Old French abile, habile, from Latin habilis (“easily managed, held, or handled; apt; skillful”), from habeō (“have, hold”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Replaced native Old English -bÇ£re (“bearing, making, worth"), from Proto-Germanic *bÄ“riz, *bÄ“rijaz; and -lic (“like, having the quality of"), from Proto-Germanic *-lÄ«kaz.

    From Wiktionary

  • From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin -ābilis, from -a- or -i- + bilis (“capable or worthy of being acted upon").

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old French from Latin -ābilis, -ibilis -ā- -i- thematic vowels -bilis adj. suff.

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English from Old French from Latin habilis from habēre to handle ghabh- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Not closely related etymologically, though currently related semantically, to able.

    From Wiktionary

  • From Middle English ablen, from Middle English able (adjective).

    From Wiktionary

  • Compare German -bar, Dutch -baar.

    From Wiktionary

  • ME < OFr < L -abilis

    From Webster's New World College Dictionary, 5th Edition

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