able adj
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able — adj 1: possessed of needed powers or of needed resources to accomplish an objective able to perform under the contract 2: having freedom from restriction or obligation or from conditions preventing an action able to vote 3: legally qualified:… … Law dictionary
able — (adj.) early 14c., from O.Fr. (h)able (14c.), from L. habilem, habilis easily handled, apt, verbal adjective from habere to hold (see HABIT (Cf. habit)). Easy to be held, hence fit for a purpose. The silent h was dropped in English and resisted… … Etymology dictionary
-able — ♦ Élément, du lat. abilis, signifiant « qui peut être » (récupérable, ministrable) ou moins souvent « qui donne », « enclin à » (secourable, pitoyable). able Suffixe, du lat. abilis, qui peut être (ex. faisable, mangeable) ou enclin à être ( … Encyclopédie Universelle
able — ● able nom masculin (latin albulus, blanchâtre) Poisson d eau douce (cyprinidé), voisin de l ablette. ⇒ABLE, subst. masc. A. ICHTYOL. Terme générique désignant une variété de poissons d eau douce (cyprinidés) et de couleur claire. B. Poisson… … Encyclopédie Universelle
able — adj. 1 able to do sth having the ability to do sth VERBS ▪ be, feel, prove, seem ADVERB ▪ fully, perfectly, quite … Collocations dictionary
able — adj. (abler, ablest) 1 (often foll. by to + infin.; used esp. in is able, will be able, was able, etc., replacing tenses of can) having the capacity or power (was not able to come). 2 having great ability; clever, skilful. Phrases and idioms:… … Useful english dictionary
able — adj. able to + inf. (she was not able to reach him) USAGE NOTE: In passive constructions, able is replaced by the verb can: he cannot be reached. * * * [ eɪb(ə)l] able to + inf. (USAGE NOTE: In passive constructions, able is replaced by the verb… … Combinatory dictionary
able — [ā′bəl] adj. abler [ā′blər] ablest [ā′bləst] [ME < OFr hable, habile < L habilis, easily handled, apt < habere, to have, hold: see HABIT] 1. having enough power, skill, etc. to do something [able to read] 2. having much power of mind;… … English World dictionary
able-bodied — adj 1.) physically strong and healthy, especially when compared with someone who is ↑disabled ▪ Every able bodied man had to fight for his country. 2.) the able bodied [plural] people who are able bodied … Dictionary of contemporary English
able-bodied — (adj.) 1620s; see ABLE (Cf. able) + BODY (Cf. body) … Etymology dictionary
