ability

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ability

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• abilitie, hability, habilitie (obsolete)

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.

• IPA^(key): /əˈbɪl.ə.ti/, /əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

• Audio (US):

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• Rhymes: -ɪlɪti

ability (countable and uncountable, plural abilities)

1. (obsolete) Suitableness. ^[1]
2. (uncountable) The quality or state of being able; capacity to do or of doing something; having the necessary power. ^[1]

   This phone has the ability to have its software upgraded wirelessly.

   This wood has the ability to fight off insects, fungus, and mold for a considerable time.

   • 2013 July 19, Peter Wilby, “Finland spreads word on schools”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 30:

     Imagine a country where children do nothing but play until they start compulsory schooling at age seven. Then, without exception, they attend comprehensives until the age of 16. Charging school fees is illegal, and so is sorting pupils into ability groups by streaming or setting.

3. The legal wherewithal to act. ^[1]
   • 2013 June 22, “T time”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 68:

     The ability to shift profits to low-tax countries by locating intellectual property in them, which is then licensed to related businesses in high-tax countries, is often assumed to be the preserve of high-tech companies.

4. (now limited to Scotland dialects) Physical power. ^[1]
5. (archaic) Financial ability. ^[1]
6. (uncountable) A unique power of the mind; a faculty. ^[1]
7. (countable) A skill or competence in doing; mental power; talent; aptitude. ^[1]

   a mixed-ability class

   They are persons of ability, who will go far in life.

   She has an uncanny ability to defuse conflict.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible,  (King James Version), London: Robert Barker, , →OCLC, Acts 11:29:

     Then the disciples, euery man according to his abilitie, determined to send reliefe vnto the brethren which dwelt in Iudea.

   • 1848, Thomas Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James II:

     The public men of England, with much of a peculiar kind of ability

   • 1884, Francis Bacon, Of Studies:

     Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study -

   • 2011 November 10, Jeremy Wilson, “England Under 21 5 Iceland Under 21 0: match report”, in Telegraph:

     The most persistent tormentor was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored a hat-trick in last month’s corresponding fixture in Iceland. His ability to run at defences is instantly striking, but it is his clever use of possession that has persuaded some shrewd judges that he is an even better prospect than Theo Walcott.

• (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

• inability, unability
• disability

• able

• “ability”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “ability”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.