ability

== English == === Alternative forms === abilitie, hability, habilitie (obsolete) === Etymology === First attested in the 1300s. From Middle English abilite (“suitability, aptitude, ability”), from Old French ableté, from Latin habilitās (“aptness, ability”), from habilis (“apt, fit, skillful, able”); equivalent to able +‎ -ity. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /əˈbɪl.ə.ti/, /əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ (Indic) IPA(key): /ɛb(ɨ)ˈlɪʈi/, /əb(ɨ)ˈlɪʈi/ Rhymes: -ɪlɪti === Noun === ability (countable and uncountable, plural abilities) (obsolete) Suitableness. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the late 17th century.] (uncountable) The quality or state of being able; capacity to do or of doing something; having the necessary power. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).] The legal wherewithal to act. [First attested in the mid 17th century.] (now limited to Scotland dialects) Physical power. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).] (archaic) Financial ability. [First attested in the early 16th century.] (uncountable) A unique power of the mind; a faculty. [First attested in the late 16th century.] (countable) A skill or competence in doing; mental power; talent; aptitude. [First attested in the early 17th century.] ==== Synonyms ==== (quality or state of being able): capacity, faculty, capability (a skill or competence): See Thesaurus:skill (high level of skill or capability): talent, cleverness, dexterity, aptitude (suitability or receptiveness to be acted upon): capability, faculty, capacity, aptness, aptitude ==== Antonyms ==== inability, unability disability ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== able ==== Translations ==== ==== Further reading ==== “ability”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “ability”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. === References ===