[1] : 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 

Able >> A Words
Able, definition of term: Able
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