able

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈeɪbəl/ UK /ˈeɪ.bl̩/ See IPA manual

Freq #470

Meanings

1

adj
having the power, skill, or chance to do something

She is able to lift the box without any help.
2

adj
good at what you do; skilled and intelligent

He is an able and respected lawyer.

Word forms

The same word in different grammatical forms.

Adjective

Abler and ablest describe skill or ability. With able to, more able and most able are usually more natural.

Base form: able
She is an able teacher.
Comparative: abler
We could not have found an abler teacher.
Superlative: ablest
She is one of our ablest teachers.

Use the comparative to compare two things or actions. Use the superlative for the highest or lowest degree in a group.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · good at what you do;... capable competent

Word family

Derived forms abilityable-bodiedable-bodismable-bodyismable-bodyistable-mindedabledableismableistablenationalismablenationalistableness

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

able seaman
a trained sailor qualified to carry out skilled work on a merchant ship

Adjective + noun

Proverbs (1)

See all

You have to live with yourself
Matching variant: You have to be able to live with yourself

Simplified etymology

Able entered English in the Middle English period from Latin habilis, “handy,” which derives from habere, “to hold.” Besides its familiar sense of having the means or qualifications to do something, it formerly also meant “easy to use” and “suitable.”

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ- Proto-Italic *haβēō Latin habeō Proto-Indo-European *-elis Proto-Italic *-elis Latin -ilis Latin habilis Old French ablebor. Middle English able English able 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”). Doublet of habile.

*gʰeh₁bʰ- Proto-Indo-European able Middle English abile Old French habilis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# able

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈeɪbəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈeɪ.bl̩/
**Frequency rank:** 470

## Meanings
1. having the power, skill, or chance to do something
2. good at what you do; skilled and intelligent

## Examples
- She is able to lift the box without any help.
- He is an able and respected lawyer.

## Derived Forms
- ability
- able-bodied
- able-bodism
- able-bodyism
- able-bodyist
- able-minded
- abled
- ableism
- ableist
- ablenationalism
- ablenationalist
- ableness

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *gʰeh₁bʰ-
- Root: able
- Root: abile
- Root: habilis

## Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ- Proto-Italic *haβēō Latin habeō Proto-Indo-European *-elis Proto-Italic *-elis Latin -ilis Latin habilis Old French ablebor. Middle English able English able 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”). Doublet of habile.

## AI Etymology
Able comes 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”). Doublet of habile. The historical line also includes Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ-.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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