-a·ble An adjective suffix now usually in a passive sense; able to be; fit to be; expressing capacity or worthiness in a passive sense; as, movable, able to be moved; amendable, able to be amended; blamable, fit to be blamed; salable.
Note: The form -ible is used in the same sense.
Note: ☞ It is difficult to say when we are not to use -able instead of -ible. “Yet a rule may be laid down as to when we are to use it. To all verbs, then, from the Anglo-Saxon, to all based on the uncorrupted infinitival stems of Latin verbs of the first conjugation, and to all substantives, whencesoever sprung, we annex -able only.”
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able
adj 1: (usually followed by `to') having the necessary means or
skill or know-how or authority to do something; "able
to swim"; "she was able to program her computer"; "we
were at last able to buy a car"; "able to get a grant
for the project" [ant: unable]
2: have the skills and qualifications to do things well; "able
teachers"; "a capable administrator"; "children as young
as 14 can be extremely capable and dependable" [syn: capable]
3: having inherent physical or mental ability or capacity;
"able to learn"; "human beings are able to walk on two
feet"; "Superman is able to leap tall buildings"
4: having a strong healthy body; "an able seaman"; "every
able-bodied young man served in the army" [syn: able-bodied]