Adjective He will buy a new car as soon as he is able. He turned out to be an able editor. She is one of the ablest lawyers in the firm.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Members of the public will still be able to make comments by telephone when in-person meetings resume. Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2022 Though Pugh eventually got her check back that day and was able to open an account with a nearby competitor, the damage was already done.Essence, 10 Sep. 2022 The plane's nose was damaged but the pilots were able to depart on their own and were taken to a hospital for observation, Naval Base Coronado spokesperson Kevin Dixon said.CBS News, 10 Sep. 2022 Ryan will be able to give Pryor some help, but ultimately, the veteran has to hold up on the left side for this passing game to reach its ceiling.The Indianapolis Star, 10 Sep. 2022 SpaceX regularly lands rockets on drone ships in the ocean; its talented engineers ought to be able to make satellites fainter. Sydney Odman, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2022 That background made Mather wonder if McCarthy was going to be able to make such quick, astute adjustments so early in his major league career. Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 9 Sep. 2022 Of course, his career was just getting stated — and after four months of recuperation, the actor was able to make his way back in front of a camera, and eventually to fame on The Walking Dead. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 7 Sep. 2022 Wesneski’s friends and family members were situated near home plate for the series opener, though his parents weren’t able to make it because his mother is ill. Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English able, abill, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin habilis "easily handled or adjusted, adaptable," from habēre "to have, hold" + -ilis, alteration (by haplology before labial consonants) of -ibilis-ible — more at give entry 1
Adjective suffix
Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French and Middle French, going back to Latin -ābilis, -ibilis, from -ā-, -i- (thematic vowels of various conjugations of verbs) + -bilis "capable (of acting) or worthy of (being acted upon)," going back to pre-Latin *-dhl-is, adjective suffix formed from the instrumental noun suffix *-dhl-om (whence Latin -bulum)