enable

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   render capable or able for some task

   This skill will enable you to find a job on Wall Street

2. 2
   verb

   To make somebody able (to do, or to be, something); to give sufficient ability or power to do or to be; to give strength or ability to.

   And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

3. 3
   verb

   To qualify or approve for some role or position; to render sanction or authorization to; to confirm suitability for.

   This was widely interpreted to mean that slavery was once more firmly illegal in England. However, the "positive law" mentioned–i.e., a direct law specifically enabling slavery–existed in many British colonies (although not all), since these colonies had a degree of freedom to write their own law apart from that of the home country.

4. 4
   verb

   To yield the opportunity or provide the possibility for something; to provide with means, opportunities, and the like.

   Temperance gives Nature her full play, and enables her to exert herself in all her force and vigor.

5. 5
   verb

   To imply or tacitly confer excuse for an action or a behavior.

   His parents enabled him to go on buying drugs.

6. 6
   verb

   To affirm; to make firm and strong.

7. 7
   verb

   To put a circuit element into action by supplying a suitable input pulse.

8. 8
   verb

   To activate, to make operational (especially of a function of an electronic or mechanical device).

Etymology

From Middle English enablen, equivalent to en- + able.