Etimology
From Middle English able, from Old Northern French able, variant of Old French abile, habile, from Latin habilis (“easily managed, held, or handled; apt; skillful”), from habeō (“have, possess”) + -ibilis. Broadly ousted the native Old English magan.
adjective
able (comparative abler, superlative ablest)
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).]
Gifted with skill, intelligence, knowledge, or competence. [First attested in the mid 16th century.]
(law) Legally qualified or competent. [First attested in the early 18th century.]
(nautical) Capable of performing all the requisite duties; as an able seaman. [First attested in the late 18th century.]
(obsolete, dialectal) Having the physical strength; robust; healthy. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]
(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).]
(obsolete) Rich; well-to-do. [Attested from the mid 16th century until the late 19th century.]
Examples
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.
The chairman was also an able sailor.
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.
Urania speaks with darken’d brow:‘Thou pratest here where thou art least;This faith has many a purer priest,And many an abler voice than thou: […] ’
He is able to practice law in six states.
After the past week of forced marches, only half the men are fully able.
As the hands are the most habil parts of the body...
[…] 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.
He was born to an able family.
Related words
synonyms
See also Thesaurus:skillful
related terms
-able, -ible
Etimology
From Middle English ablen, from Middle English able (adjective).
verb
able (third-person singular simple present ables, present participle abling, simple 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.]
Examples
None does offend, none....I’ll able ’em.
Etimology
From the first letter of the word. Suggested in the 1916 United States Army Signal Book to distinguish the letter when communicating via telephone, and later adopted in other radio and telephone signal standards.
noun
able (uncountable)
(military) The letter "A" in Navy Phonetic Alphabet.