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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.
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   2. To vouch for. "I 'll able them." --Shak.
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2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
-able \-a*ble\ (-[.a]*b'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.
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   Note: The form -ible is used in the same sense.
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   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.
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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.]
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            A many man, to ben an abbot able.     --Chaucer.
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   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.
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   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.
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            No man wrote abler state papers.      --Macaulay.
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   4. (Law) Legally qualified; possessed of legal competence;
      as, able to inherit or devise property.
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   Note:

   Able for, is Scotticism.

            "Hardly able for such a march." --Robertson.
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   Syn: Competent; qualified; fitted; efficient; effective;
        capable; skillful; clever; vigorous; powerful.
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Thesaurus Results for -able:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
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
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