[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

able \a"ble\, v. t. see able, a. obs.
   1. to make able; to enable; to strengthen. --chaucer.
      1913 webster

   2. to vouch for. "i 'll able them." --shak.
      1913 webster
see also:
able 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

-able \-able\ -.ab'l. f. -able, l. -abilis.
   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.
   1913 webster

   note: the form -ible is used in the same sense.
         1913 webster

   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." --fitzed. hall.
         1913 webster
see also:
-ible 

[3] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

able \a"ble\, a. comp. abler; superl. ablest. of. habile,
   l. habilis that may be easily held or managed, apt, skillful,
   fr. habere to have, hold. cf. habile and see habit.
   1. fit; adapted; suitable. obs.
      1913 webster

            a many man, to ben an abbot able.     --chaucer.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

            no man wrote abler state papers.      --macaulay.
      1913 webster

   4. law legally qualified; possessed of legal competence;
      as, able to inherit or devise property.
      1913 webster

   note:

   able for, is scotticism.

            "hardly able for such a march." --robertson.
      1913 webster

   syn: competent; qualified; fitted; efficient; effective;
        capable; skillful; clever; vigorous; powerful.
        1913 webster
see also:
abler ablest habile habit able for 

[4] : WordNet (r) 2.0

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
see also:
unable capable able-bodied 

[5] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

77 moby thesaurus words for "able":
   adapted, adequate, adjusted, alert, au fait, brainy, brilliant,
   capable, checked out, clever, competent, effective, effectual,
   efficacious, efficient, enigmatic, enterprising, equal to, expert,
   fit, fitted, fitted for, go-ahead, good, incalculable,
   incognizable, intelligent, journeyman, keen, mysterious,
   productive, proficient, proper, puzzling, qualified, sealed, sharp,
   skilled, skillful, smart, strange, suited, unapparent,
   unapprehended, unascertained, unbeknown, uncharted, unclassified,
   undisclosed, undiscoverable, undiscovered, undivulged, unexplained,
   unexplored, unexposed, unfamiliar, unfathomed, unheard, unheard-of,
   unidentified, uninvestigated, unknowable, unknown, unperceived,
   unplumbed, unrevealed, unsuspected, untouched, up to, up to snuff,
   up-and-coming, virgin, well-fitted, well-qualified, well-suited,
   wicked, worthy

[6] : The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)

able
     
         a simple language for accountants.
     
        "able, the accounting language, programming and reference
        manual," evansville data proc center, evansville, in, mar
        1975.
     
        listed in sigplan notices 1311:56 nov 1978.
     
        1994-11-08
     
     

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