Able

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Table of contents

1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Adjective 1.2.1 Translations 1.3 Transitive verb 1.4 Translations 1.5 Related Terms

English

Etymology

Old French habile, Latin habilis easily held or managed, apt, skillful, from habere to have, hold.

Adjective

able, abler, ablest

1. (dated) Healthy.

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

2. Not prevented form; permitted.

   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.

   I'll see you as soon as I'm able.

3. Skillful

   The chariman was also an able sailor.

4. (law) Legally qualified or competent.

   In most states, such a person is not able to inherit property.

Translations

Note: These are now out of sync

• Basque: gauza (2), gai (2), trebe (3), iaio (3), abil (3)
• Breton: gouest da + verb / d'ober un dra bennak (to do something), barrek
• Dutch: in staat om, kapabel, kundig, competent
• Esperanto: ebla
• French: capable
• Indonesian: mampu
• Spanish: capáz

Transitive verb

able

1. (Obsolete) To make able; to enable; to strengthen.
2. (Obsolete) To vouch for.

   Quotations

   • I 'll able 'em. - Shakespeare, King Lear, IV-vi

Translations

Lojban: kakne

Related Terms

• ability
• -able
• capable
• disable
• enable
• habit
• have