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“ability”
1. The power or capacity to do or to act physically, mentally, legally, morally, financially, etc.
2. The competence in an activity or occupation because of one's skill, training, or other qualification: "He had the ability to learn languages easily."
3. A particular gift for doing something well; abilities, talents; special skills or aptitudes: "Learning mathematics seems to be beyond his abilities."
4. Etymology: from Middle English abilite, from Old French ablete, habilite (French habilite); which came from Latin habilitatem, accusative form of habilitas, "aptitude, ability"; from habilis, "that which may be easily handled or managed, suitable, fit, proper".
2. The competence in an activity or occupation because of one's skill, training, or other qualification: "He had the ability to learn languages easily."
3. A particular gift for doing something well; abilities, talents; special skills or aptitudes: "Learning mathematics seems to be beyond his abilities."
4. Etymology: from Middle English abilite, from Old French ablete, habilite (French habilite); which came from Latin habilitatem, accusative form of habilitas, "aptitude, ability"; from habilis, "that which may be easily handled or managed, suitable, fit, proper".
This entry is located in the following units:
habit-, hab-, -hibit; habili-, habil-
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-ility
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ability, capacity
ability (uh BIL i tee) (noun)
The power, gift, or competence to do or to act physically, mentally, legally, financially, etc.: "Clara was a young woman with a remarkable musical ability."
capacity (kuh PAS uh tee) (noun)
1. Amount of room or space inside; largest amount that can be held by a container: "A gallon can has a capacity of four quarts (3.78 liters)."
2. Capable of learning or doing; power or fitness: "Last year's class of graduates demonstrated a great capacity for learning."
2. Capable of learning or doing; power or fitness: "Last year's class of graduates demonstrated a great capacity for learning."
The ability of Congressman Brad Arnold to fill the capacity of the peoples' attention in every town on the lecture circuit was considered an amazing achievement.
Professor Cory apparently was able to demonstrate that his students have an insatiable capacity for obtaining information by using their computers.
This entry is located in the following units:
Confusing Words Clarified: Group A; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. +
(page 1)
habit-, hab-, -hibit; habili-, habil-
(page 1)
Quotes: Ability, Part 1
Use it, don't waste it: ability quotes.
Quotes: Ability, Part 2
Discover it, utilize it: ability quotes.
Units related to:
“ability”
(Latin: a suffix; meaning, ability, ability to [do something])
(Latin: power, strength, ability, able; having authority over; rule over, command of)
(Use it, don't waste it!)
(Discover it, utilize it!)
(Latin: suffix; expressing ability, capacity, fitness, or "that which may be easily handled or managed")
(Greek: irresolution, indecision, loss or defect of the ability to make decisions)
(Latin: a suffix that means "able to [be]"; a variation of -ability)
(Latin: suffix; ability to, capable of, suitable for; pertaining to, like, belonging to, tending to)
(bound to sell and to be read; the ability to hear with the eyes)
(consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing until it gets there)
Word Entries at Get Words:
“ability”
A good salesman has the ability (capability, capacity) to sell anything.
Ability is a special skill, like speaking several languages, or keeping your mouth shut in one language.
This entry is located in the following unit:
English Words in Action, Group A +
(page 2)
(over the past century, knowledge of the way the universe works [science] has grown significantly, and with it the ability to apply that knowledge to everyday problems [technology] has changed the way people live)