a·ble /ˈebḷ/ 形容詞
有能力的, 能幹的, 能夠的, 可以的
A·ble a. [comp. Abler superl. Ablest ]
1. Fit; adapted; suitable. [Obs.]
A many man, to ben an abbot able. --Chaucer.
2. Having sufficient power, strength, force, skill, means, or resources of any kind to accomplish the object; possessed of qualifications rendering competent for some end; competent; qualified; capable; as, an able workman, soldier, seaman, a man able to work; a mind able to reason; a person able to be generous; able to endure pain; able to play on a piano.
3. Specially: Having intellectual qualifications, or strong mental powers; showing ability or skill; talented; clever; powerful; as, the ablest man in the senate; an able speech.
No man wrote abler state papers. --Macaulay.
4. Law Legally qualified; possessed of legal competence; as, able to inherit or devise property.
Note: Able for, is Scotticism. =\“Hardly able for such a march.”\= --Robertson.
Syn: -- Competent; qualified; fitted; efficient; effective; capable; skillful; clever; vigorous; powerful.
A·ble, v. t. [Obs.]
1. To make able; to enable; to strengthen.
2. To vouch for. “I 'll able them.”
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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]