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.]
A many man, to ben an abbot able.
Chaucer.
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.
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.
No man wrote abler state papers.
Macaulay.
4. Law
Legally qualified; possessed of legal competence; as, able to inherit or devise property.
Able for, is Scotticism.
"Hardly able for such a march."
Robertson.
Syn. -- Competent; qualified; fitted; efficient; effective; capable; skillful; clever; vigorous; powerful.
© Webster 1913.
A"ble, v. t. [See Able, a.] [Obs.]
1.
To make able; to enable; to strengthen.
Chaucer.
2.
To vouch for.
"I 'll able them."
Shak.
© Webster 1913.