ABLE

ABLE, adjective a'bl. [Latin habitis]1. Having physical power sufficient; having competent power or strength, bodily or mental; as a man able to perform military service - a child is not able to reason on abstract subjects.2. Having strong or unusual powers of mind, or intellectual qualifications; as an able minister.Provide out of all Israel able men. Exodus 18:18.3. Having large or competent property; or simply have property, or means.Every man shall give as he is able Deuteronomy 16:17.4. Having competent strength or fortitude.He is not able to sustain such pain or affliction.5. Having sufficient knowledge or skill.He is able to speak French.She is not able to play on the piano.6. Having competent moral power or qualifications.An illegitimate son is not able to take by inheritance.

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able. Able, a. having power, capable of doing, strong

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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. 1. Fit; adapted; suitable.
A many man, to ben an abbot able. Chaucer. 2. 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. 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. 4. (Law) Legally qualified; possessed of legal competence; as, able to inherit or devise property.
Able for, is Scotticism. “Hardly able for such a march.” Robertson. Syn. — Competent; qualified; fitted; efficient; effective; capable; skillful; clever; vigorous; powerful.