able
see also: Able
Pronunciation
Able
Proper noun
This text is extracted from the Wiktionary and it is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license | Terms and conditions | Privacy policy 0.004
see also: Able
Pronunciation
- (America) IPA: /ˈeɪ.bl̩/, /ˈeɪ.bəl/
able (comparative abler, superlative ablest)
- (obsolete) Easy to use. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the mid 18th century.]
- (obsolete) Suitable; competent. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the late 18th century.]
- (obsolete, dialectal) Liable to. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]
- Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]
- Free from constraints preventing completion of task; permitted to; not prevented from. [First attested from around 1350 to 1470).]
- 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.
- (obsolete, dialectal) Having the physical strength; robust; healthy. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]
- After the past week of forced marches, only half the men are fully able.
- (obsolete) Rich; well-to-do. [Attested from the mid 16th century until the late 19th century.]
- He was born to an able family.
- Gifted with skill, intelligence, knowledge, or competence. [First attested in the mid 16th century.]
- 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 863521290 ↗; newly enlarged edition, London: Printed by Iohn Haviland, […], 1632, OCLC 863527675 ↗, 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.
- (law) Legally qualified or competent. [First attested in the early 18th century.]
- He is able to practice law in six states.
- (nautical) Capable of performing all the requisite duties; as an able seaman. [First attested in the late 18th century.]
- See also Thesaurus:skillful
- French: capable
- German: imstande, fähig
- Italian: capace
- Portuguese: possível, permitido
- Russian: (please verify) в состоя́нии (v sostojánii) attention ru, спосо́бный
- Spanish: capaz
- French: capable, expérimenté
- German: fähig, tüchtig
- Italian: abile
- Portuguese: capaz
- Russian: спосо́бный
- Spanish: diestro, hábil, capaz
- French: habilité
- German: kompetent
- Portuguese: competente
- Russian: компете́нтный
- Spanish: competente
able (ables, present participle abling; past and past participle abled)
- (transitive, obsolete) To make ready. [Attested from around (1150 to 1350) until the late 16th century.]
- (transitive, obsolete) To make capable; to enable. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the late 19th century.]
- (transitive, obsolete) To dress. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the late 15th century.]
- (transitive, obsolete) To give power to; to reinforce; to confirm. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the mid 17th century.]
- (transitive, obsolete) To vouch for; to guarantee. [Attested from the late 16th century until the early 17th century.]
- c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act IV, (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)]:vi
- None does offend, none....I’ll able ’em.
able (uncountable)
- (military) The letter "A" in Joint_Army/Navy_Phonetic_Alphabet.
Able
Proper noun
This text is extracted from the Wiktionary and it is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license | Terms and conditions | Privacy policy 0.004