51Թ

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View synonyms for

ability

1

[uh-bil-i-tee]

noun

plural

abilities 
  1. power or capacity to do or act physically, mentally, legally, morally, financially, etc.

    Synonyms: , , ,
  2. competence in an activity or occupation because of one's skill, training, or other qualification.

    the ability to sing well.

  3. abilities, talents; special skills or aptitudes.

    Composing music is beyond his abilities.



-ability

2
  1. a combination of -able and -ity, found on nouns corresponding to adjectives ending in -able:

    capability.

ability

/ əˈɪɪɪ /

noun

  1. possession of the qualities required to do something; necessary skill, competence, or power

    the ability to cope with a problem

  2. considerable proficiency; natural capability

    a man of ability

  3. (plural) special talents

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • subability noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of ability1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (h)abilite, from Middle French, from Latin 󲹲 “aptitude,” equivalent to habili(s) “handy” ( able ) + - -ty 2; replacing Middle English ablete, from Old French, from Latin, as above

Origin of ability2

Middle English -abilite, from French -é, from Latin - (inflectional stem -- )
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of ability1

C14: from Old French from Latin 󲹲 aptitude, handiness, from habilis able
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Synonym Study

Ability, faculty, talent denote qualifications or powers. Ability is a general word for power, native or acquired, enabling one to do things well: a person of great ability; ability in mathematics. Faculty denotes a natural ability for a particular kind of action: a faculty of saying what he means. Talent is often used to mean a native ability or aptitude in a special field: a talent for music or art.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

California would likely be unable to raise the commercial rates to the level of the Medi-Cal ones, because state law constrains the legislature’s ability to do so.

From

EMTALA, enacted in 1986, was designed to protect patients and ensure they receive stabilizing emergency care, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

From

What safeguards, if any, do members of Congress have that might protect their ability to speak freely, and publicly oppose the executive branch?

From

This and other progress on plastics and illegal fishing appears to have restored faith in the ability of governments to work together.

From

In the darkest hours before dawn the Israeli Air Force targeted not just sites linked to Iran's nuclear programme but also the country's air defences and ballistic missile bases, thereby reducing Iran's ability to retaliate.

From

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AbileneAbimelech