Noun a young woman with many remarkable musical abilities a young woman of great musical ability She has shown some ability with foreign languages.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The problem, though, is that much of the cybersecurity marketplace is premised on the notion that technology advances are best measured in their ability to perfectly reduce the possibility of an attack. Pat Muoio, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 When the Bengals drafted Chase and Higgins, the front office prioritized their playmaking ability. Charlie Goldsmith, The Enquirer, 8 Sep. 2022 O'Neal credits his years of fatherhood for his ability to connect with his younger fans. Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2022 Medical experts have said that a person's speech patterns following a stroke are not indicative of their cognitive ability. Alisa Wiersema, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2022 Heck, even the flashes of promise within preseason games last month foreshadowed the giddiness and anticipation that surfaces when Fields showcases his playmaking ability. Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 His ability to make a central location feel just as vital as the actors that are inhabiting them is quite striking. Clayton Davis, Variety, 7 Sep. 2022 Flies can thank their fast, sophisticated eyesight and some neural quirks for their ability to escape swats with such speed and agility.CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 Its volumizing namesake comes from its ability to easily place the dryer close to the scalp, beneath the hair, for that swingy, salon-coiffed look. Heath Owens, Good Housekeeping, 7 Sep. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English ablete, abilite, habilite "suitability, proficiency, ability," borrowed from Anglo-French abilité, borrowed from Latin habilitāt-, habilitās "aptitude," from habilis "easy to handle, adaptable, fit" + -tāt-, -tās-ty — more at able
Noun suffix
Middle English -ablete, -abilite, -iblete, -ibilite, borrowed from Anglo-French -ableté, -abilité, -ibleté, -ibilité, borrowed from Latin -abilitās, -ibilitās, from -abilis, -ibilis-able + -tās-ty