able
adjective
[ ˈeɪb(ə)l ]
• having the power, skill, means, or opportunity to do something.
• "he was able to read Greek at the age of eight"
Similar:
allowed to,
free to,
in a position to,
capable of,
qualified to,
competent to,
equal to,
up to,
fit to,
prepared to,
• having considerable skill, proficiency, or intelligence.
• "the dancers were technically very able"
Similar:
intelligent,
clever,
brilliant,
talented,
skilful,
skilled,
accomplished,
gifted,
masterly,
virtuoso,
expert,
proficient,
apt,
good,
adroit,
adept,
qualified,
fit,
suited,
suitable,
capable,
competent,
efficient,
effective,
genius,
Origin:
late Middle English (also in the sense ‘easy to use, suitable’): from Old French hable, from Latin habilis ‘handy’, from habere ‘to hold’.
-able
suffix
• (forming adjectives) able to be.
• "calculable"
• (forming adjectives) to be.
• "payable"
• (forming adjectives) subject to.
• "taxable"
• (forming adjectives) relevant to or in accordance with.
• "fashionable"
• (forming adjectives) having the quality to.
• "suitable"
Origin:
from French -able or Latin -abilis ; originally found in words only from these forms but later used to form adjectives directly from English verbs ending in -ate, e.g. educable from educate ; subsequently used to form adjectives from verbs of all types (influenced by the unrelated word able), e.g. bearable, saleable .
