able
English
/ˈeɪ.bl̩/
adj
Definitions
- (obsolete) Easy to use.
- (obsolete) Suitable; competent.
- (obsolete) Liable to.
- Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task.
- Free from constraints preventing completion of task; permitted to; not prevented from.
- (obsolete) Having the physical strength; robust; healthy.
- (obsolete) Rich; well-to-do.
- Gifted with skill, intelligence, knowledge, or competence.
- (law) Legally qualified or competent.
- (nautical) Capable of performing all the requisite duties; as an able seaman.
Etymology
Derived from able derived from Old French abile derived from Latin habilis (suitable, skillful, apt, held, easily managed, or handled) root from Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ- (take, grab, hold).
Origin
Proto-Indo-European
*gʰeh₁bʰ-
Gloss
take, grab, hold
Concept
Semantic Field
Possession
Ontological Category
Action/Process
Emoji
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- ably English
- debilis Latin
- debitum Latin
- duo Latin
- dēbita Latin
- dēbitum Latin
- dēbēre Latin
- exhibitus Latin
- habeō Latin
- habilis Latin
- habilitas Latin
- habilito Latin
- habilitās Latin
- habitus Latin
- inhabilis Latin
- inhibitus Latin
- prohibeo Latin
- abile Italian
- devoir French
- habile French
- habiloso Spanish, Castilian
- hábil Spanish, Castilian
- hábilmente Spanish, Castilian
- *(s)kep- Proto-Indo-European
- *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European
- *gʰeh₁bʰ- Proto-Indo-European
- *gʰh₁bʰ- Proto-Indo-European
- hábil Portuguese
- gafeluc Old English
- able Middle English
- dout Middle English
- gabháil Irish
- ábalta Irish
- abile Old French
- able Old French
- devoir Old French
- doute Old French
- habile Old French
- hàbil Catalan, Valencian
- գօտի Old Armenian
- habila Ido
- argaib Old Irish
- congaib Old Irish
- fo·gaib Old Irish
- foácaib Old Irish
- gabul Old Irish
- indocbál Old Irish
- turcbál Old Irish
- *gabaglā Proto-Celtic
- *gablā Proto-Celtic
- *gabyeti Proto-Celtic
- *wereti Proto-Celtic
- *habēō Proto-Italic
- able ONF.