Word family noun ability ≠ inability disability adjective able ≠ unable disabled verb enable ≠ disable adverb ably
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishablea‧ble /ˈeɪbəl/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective 1 → be able to do something2 GOOD ATclever or good at doing something one of my more able studentsExamples from the Corpus
able• an able assistant• She was widely regarded as one of the most able members of the president's staff.• Mrs Thomas is a very able teacher.• Currently, such creatures are not able to converse, creating instead relationships closer to the family pet.• It was being moved, placed where she wanted him, and there was nothing he was able to do about it.• Apart from that, if you're able to get about then clearly it's helpful if there's no traffic.• Most preschool children are well able to issue instructions.• They should be able to offer you the support you need at an academic and personal level.• He would not have been able to put a precise age on the skeleton.• She needs to be able to reflect on her own behavior, feelings, and tendencies more than the average child.• Jasper had said he would be able to spot me in a crowd, to pick me out at once.-able-able /əbəl/ (also -ible) suffix [in adjectives] 1 XXthat you can do something to washable (=it can be washed) unbreakable (=it cannot be broken) loveable (=easy to love)2 XXhaving a particular quality or condition knowledgeable (=knowing a lot) comfortable —-ably /əbli/, -ibly suffix [in adverbs] unbelievablyExamples from the Corpus
-able• lovableOrigin able (1300-1400) Old French Latin habilis “skillful”, from habere “to have” -able Old French Latin -abilis, from -bilis “capable or worthy of” 