DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
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·bler a., comp. of Able. -- A*blest a., superl. of Able.
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