| 释义 |
ableadj.adv.n. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French able. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman abil, abill, Anglo-Norman and Middle French able, habile, hable, Middle French abile, abille, habille (second half of the 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman as haiable ; end of the 12th cent. in Old French in a text from Lorraine as aule , showing vocalization of medial -b- ; French habile ) (of a person) able-bodied, muscular, powerful (second half of the 12th cent. in Anglo-Norman), (of an inanimate object or fact) suitable, fit, appropriate (second half of the 13th cent.), (of a person) competent, expert (end of the 13th cent.), legally capable, entitled, or qualified (end of the 13th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman, frequently with reference to ability to inherit; this use is apparently not paralleled in continental French until later (1390 with reference to ability to sue, 1461 with reference to ability to inherit)), (of a ship) seaworthy (c1440 or earlier in Anglo-Norman), (of a person) intelligent, clever (1555) < classical Latin habilis easy to handle, easily dealt with, suitable, fit for a purpose, in post-classical Latin also vigorous (5th cent.), worthy (1448 in a British source) < habēre to hold (see habit n.) + -ilis -il suffix. In senses A. 3a and A. 4 (which are apparently not paralleled in French) after classical Latin habilis. Compare Old Occitan abil (14th cent.), Catalan hàbil (1490 as †àbil ), Spanish hábil (late 14th cent.; also †abil ), Portuguese hábil (15th cent. as †abile , †aville ), Italian abile (end of the 13th cent. or earlier; also †habile ). Compare later habile adj. 4 and see discussion at that entry, and also unable adj. and later inhabile adj.With able for (see sense A. 1a) compare Anglo-Norman able pur (15th cent. or earlier). With use as adverb compare aiblins adv. With spellings with initial h- in both English and French, compare discussion at H n. English regional and Scots forms in y- reflect the development of a glide /j/ before a front vowel (see E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §429, A. J. Aitken & C. Macafee Older Sc. Vowels (2002) §22.2, and compare e.g. oat n.). Eng. Dial. Dict. records such forms from northern English counties, and Sc. National Dict. from southern Scotland; in addition, J. Wright Eng. Dial. Gram. (1905) §§204, 248 records sporadic use of such forms from counties in the west midlands and south-west of England. A. adj. 1. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1963) 1 Kings xiv. 52 Whom euere Saul sawȝ a strong man & able to bataile he felaschepede hym to hymselue. a1450 (?a1390) J. Mirk (Claud.) (1974) l. 1119 (MED) He was more abeler þen þow To alle manere gode and prow. c1460 (?c1400) 3237 (MED) I shall tech hym..to gadir houndis doung Tyll it be abill of prentyse to crafft of tanry. 1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan ii. v. 99 Whan they see the ost so lessed they thought to be able for theym. 1548 H. Latimer sig. C.ii It is also a sclaunder to the noble men, as thoughe they lacked wisedome, and learnyng to be able for suche offyces. 1594 R. Carew tr. J. Huarte Ep. Ded. sig. Aiiiv None hath cleerely and distinctly deliuered what that nature is which maketh a man able for one science, and vncapable of another. 1632 D. Lupton ii. xi. 136 There names [sc. Constables] imply that they should be constant and able for the discharge of their Office. 1693 W. Congreve tr. Juvenal xi. 219 A Man..Able for arms..'Mongst common Fencers, Practices the Trade. 1737 H. Baker tr. Virgil in II. 8 E'er Thou attempt weak Causes to support, Be sure, be very sure, Thou'rt able for't. 1777 (rev. ed.) ii. 13 It's an unco thing all a body to be bound to a business, if they dinna ken whether they be able for it or no. 1848 A. Trollope I. vii. 176 I'm never well able for anything till I get a little warmed. 1866 M. Oliphant I. ii. 25 I am not able for any more. Let me off for today. 1940 J. Stuart 55 You act like you air tired. You won't be able fer the dance. 1971 T. Murphy i. 20 Oh, a lot think, you know, we aren't able for them. 1994 J. Galloway ix. 140 Rona looked able for biting somebody. the world > action or operation > ability > [adjective] a1382 Prefatory Epist. St. Jerome in (Bodl. 959) (1959) iii. l. 4 A witt able to be Itauȝt. & with outen techer is preysable. a1400 tr. Lanfranc (Ashm.) (1894) 311 (MED) It is a feble leche þat can not helpe þat is able to be holpen. c1400 (?c1380) 599 (MED) He þat stod þe long day stable..Þenne þe lasse in werke to take more able. 1482 R. Cely Let. 24 June in (1975) 162 I trwste to Jhesu whe schaull be abbull to wythstonde howr enmys. a1500 (?a1450) (Harl. 7333) (1879) 269 To be abill to wed hure. 1530 J. Palsgrave 316/2 Invyolable nat able to be broken, inuiolable. 1535 1 Kings xxii. 22 Thou shalt disceaue him, and shalt be able. 1551 T. Wilson sig. Eiv Neither can any Lawe be able violentlye to force the inward thought of man. 1558 Q. Kennedy xii. sig. Eviiiv To be the mair habyll to keip the commande of god. 1589 R. Lane in R. Hakluyt iii. 742 The Minerall,..though it be but copper, seeing the Sauages are able to melt it, it is one of the richest in the worlde. 1611 Eph. iii. 18 That yee being rooted and grounded in loue, May be able [Gk. ἐξισχύσητε] to comprehend..the loue of Christ. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) v. i. 69 I thank my good Father, I am able to maintaine it. View more context for this quotation 1643 Sir T. Browne (authorized ed.) i. §44 Since I have been able not onely as we do at schoole, to construe, but understand. View more context for this quotation 1678 T. Gale iii. 32 That God's influxe doth..render the subject habile to act. 1711 J. Swift (1767) III. 151 It rained so this evening again, that I thought I should hardly be able to get a dry hour to walk home in. 1755 H. Laurens Let. 18 Dec. in (1970) II. 44 We are very glad to hear Mr. Guichard was able to do so well for you at St. Kitts with your two small Vessells. a1781 R. Watson (1783) i. 78 No army..could be able to contend alone with the English forces. 1792 M. Wollstonecraft iv. 121 So ludicrous..do these ceremonies appear to me that I scarcely am able to govern my muscles. 1839 R. S. Robinson 174 I am not able to speak of the engineers in Her Majesty's ships. 1860 J. Tyndall i. §16. 105 He finally concluded that I was able to take care of myself. 1880 A. W. Kinglake VI. ix. 228 Abler..than others to bring their country new strength. 1896 19 Nov. 6/5 The crime of not being able to change, and even re-change, one's religion at the command of the Privy Council. 1916 H. L. Wilson 338 That old mahala of mine, she not able to chew much now. 1956 E. Ambler viii. 175 I was able to persuade her to..begin another game of gin. 1978 Mar. 18/1 Railcards for the 14–17 yr olds will be able to be purchased at most local stations from the above mentioned date. 1990 A. Parfrey (rev. ed.) 8 The talisman that is most able to repel the onset of paralyzing dread. 2006 Nov. 65/1 The ultimate insulator must be light, strong, and, of course, able to withstand trial by fire. a1382 Prefatory Epist. St. Jerome in (Bodl. 959) (1959) iv. l. 27 Þey werun goddis tauȝt men, þat is, able men to liȝtly ben Itauȝt of god. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Cor. iii. 6 God..made vs able [L. idoneos] mynistris of the newe testament. c1500 (?a1437) (1939) xcix (MED) By vertew pure of your aspectis hable, Unto youre grace lat now ben acceptable My pure request. 1628 O. Felltham xxxiv. sig. O6 Worth without wealth, is like an able seruant out of imployment. 1689 in R. Renwick (1910) 129 The toun clerk to conveen the habile burgesses and to proceid in the said electiones. 1758 S. Hayward iv. 108 Christ is thus a compleat and able saviour. 1495 (Electronic ed.) Parl. Oct. 1495 §62. m. 33 The wages of a maister shipwright by the day .iiij. d... an able clyncher by the day .ij. d. ob. 1562 1 Euery person or persons, so alowed and admytted, for an able and lawefull workeman, or workemen in forme aforesayde, shall haue a Testimoniall or Certificat of hys alowaunce and admyttaunce. 1593 R. Cosin (rev. ed.) i. v. 31 By the bookes of the Common lawe, whether the Church be full or not full, or the Clerke able or not able, is triable in an ecclesiasticall Court. 1670 T. Blount Admission (admissio), Is when the Bishop, upon examination admits a Clerk to be able, and says Admitto te habilem. 1708 J. Kersey Admission, or Admittance..in Law is when a presentation to a void Benefice being made by the Patron, the Bishop allows the Clerk to be able. 1728 E. Chambers (at cited word) Admission,..the bishop..allows a Clerk to be able, or competently qualify'd for the Office; which is done by the Formula Admitto te habilem.] †2. the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > suitability or appropriateness > [adjective] a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1963) Ruth i. 12 I am wastid bi eelde ne able to þe bond of matrymoyne. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Philipp. iv. 8 What euere thingis amyable, or able for to be loued. a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 467 (MED) Mannys soule..is able [L. aptatur] to dyvers manere of doynge. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 169v Euerych suche felde oþer lieþ leye..or is able to pasture..or bereþ floures and is able to been. ?a1425 in D. Knoop & G. P. Jones (1933) 262 (MED) He may not ben able To lordys profyt. a1475 (Garrett) (1929) 18 (MED) The lynnen that is able to the naked body betokenes peese and acorde. ?1523 J. Fitzherbert f. xxxvii A sowe or she be able to kyll shall bryng forthe as many pygges or mo, as she is worth. a1525 (?1421) (1907) I. 29 (MED) That he sell no maner of suche fische ne no vitales till..that hit be ouersen by the maiour, þat hit be abull for mannys meite. a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun (Royal) ix. 2778 To that baith curtas and cunnand He wes, bath habyll and avenand. 1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy iv. 334 Quhilk wes mare habil to have desirit than to have obtenit the tribunate. 1583 P. Stubbes sig. Hviiiv A good peece of beef was thought than, good meat, and able for the best. 1602 in J. D. Marwick (1870) II. 142 The ship..gif sche may be..maid habill for transporting..guidis. a1652 R. Brome Queen & Concubine v. vii. 118 in (1659) To the next able Tree with him, and hang him presently. 1678 A. Marvell Def. John Howe in (1875) IV. 184 Apt and habile for any congenerous action. 1715 R. Wodrow (1843) II. 24 The most habile way to prevent the ruin of this church. 1717 R. Wodrow (1843) II. 335 An ecclesiastical judicatory are most habile judges of what is necessary. 1795 J. Macknight I. 611 Many habile and disinterested witnesses. the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > [adjective] > seemly or proper a1500 Bk. Curtesy (Adv.) in (1886) 9 l. 42 (MED) Nor spytt þou not over þe tabull Ne þer onne, hit is not abull. †3. society > authority > subjection > obedience > manageability > [adjective] > compliant c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Nahum iii. 4 The fornycaciouns of the hoore fair and able [a1425 L.V. plesaunt; L. gratae]. a1425 (Stonyhurst) f. 13v Cernus, bee able or buxom. c1540 (?a1400) 3982 Andromaca, auenonde, abill of person, Worthy Ector wyfe, was a we faire. 1607 (?a1425) (Harl. 2124) i. 60 Noe, to me thou arte full able, and thy sacrifice acceptable. the world > action or operation > advantage > convenience > [adjective] > easily managed 1741 W. Oldys et al. v. 67 The Hands are the most habil members of the Body. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 212 If þe humour is smal and þynne and able [L. habilis] to be wasted and fordruyd, þanne þe bowes fordryeþ. a1439 J. Lydgate (Bodl. 263) iii. 2894 (MED) Thei wer able, as be likliheed, For ther outrages forto fall in pouerte. 1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville (Caxton) (1859) ii. lx. 57 Thyne was the action, and I nought but abyl for to suffre. c1500 (?a1437) (1939) xiv (MED) The bird that fed is on the nest..of wit wayke and unstable, To fortune both and to infortune hable. c1540 J. Bellenden tr. H. Boece i. iv. f. 4v/1 Becaus thay knew al pepyl but successioun abyll to perische, thay send thair ambassatouris to ye Scottis desyring to haue thair dochteris in mariage. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie (1888) I. 59 Sailing til Orknay is able to incur danger. 1606 App. 153 Thair brig habill to decay without tymes remeid. 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini 40 A spectacle able to make a man die for anger. 1866 E. Lynn Linton III. 116 [He] is noo yeble to be beggared if folks hev a mind. 5. Now Scottish, Irish English ( northern), and Newfoundland. the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective] c1440 (?a1400) 2635 (MED) He will be Alexander ayre..Abillere þan euer was sir Ector of Troye. ?1521 A. Barclay sig. Cvjv His shulders large, for burthen stronge and able. a1559 Bp. C. Tunstall & J. Stokesley (1560) sig. Cvv Likewise many a captayne of greate Armies, whiche is not able, nor neuer coulde peraduenture shoote or breake a speare by his owne strength, yet by his wisedom and commaundement onely, he atchiueth the warres, and attayneth the victorye. 1607 S. Rowlands 30 But in thy youth and able strength, Giue prouidence thy hand. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. v. 80 His Highnesse comes post..of as able bodie as when he number'd thirty. View more context for this quotation a1687 W. Petty (1691) ii. 37 So many able Men, whose lives are taken away, for the crimes which ill Discipline doth occasion. 1736 R. Brookes tr. J.-B. Du Halde et al. III. 199 There appeared a bold able Fellow, who with his Shoulder supported the Chariot. 1750 G. Hughes 305 It is found to be a difficult task for a very able man to uncling one of them from the rocks. 1833 Apr. 393/1 ‘Oh, I'm too little to rob any one,’ says little Fairly. ‘I'm not a fine big able fellow, like you, to do that same.’ 1863 J. C. Atkinson A yabble kind of a man, a strong stout person. 1915 16 Apr. 3 He feers that mony yible chaps Obey not duty's ca'. 1964 in (1982) 3/1 Big, able man, strong man. 1990 L. Todd 20 He's as able as a cyart-horse but he's lazy with it. 1597 Bp. J. King iv. 52 The breaking of the ship, a strong & an able ship, by conjuecture, because so lately sent forth to sea. 1641 R. Carpenter i. xv. 108 Dores, strengthen'd with able barres. 1711 W. Sutherland 26 Then hang up a Ribbon at the Floor Sirmark, and..nail that Ribbon, and shore it with very able Pieces of Timber. 1766 A. Nicol 120 An able house well thatch'd aboon. 1845 J. R. Swan I. xvi. 445 [They] are bound by the law of the land, to provide and maintain good, strong and able carriages. 1889 1 July 6/4 The Dragon is also likely to prove a very able boat in a hard wind. 1901 R. D. Evans viii. 85 I was in charge of the commodore's barge, a very handsome, large, able boat, fit to carry thirty-five or forty men. 1964 in (1982) 3/1 We got a speed boat, a good one. Eighteen foot long, able boat. the mind > possession > wealth > [adjective] 1516 in (1706) II. 27/1 Alexander Humes, a busie, potent, and able Lord. 1548 f. lxx We..shall..do to our power that able persones and proffitable been taken to the offices aswell of iustices. 1567 (rev. ed.) f. 66v Sa will the Lord mak the abill, And fill thy hous with honestie. 1665 S. Pepys (1879) VI. 103 It was the child of a very able citizen in Gracious Street. 1694 in (N. Riding Rec. Soc.) (1889) VII. 149 An able man and in a very plentiful condition to live. 1702 W. Bromley 225 All this Commerce has enriched the Town, and made a great many able Merchants among them. 1795 II. No. 17. 259 The success of these voyages was sufficient to determine the most able merchants of London to establish a company in the year 1600. 1863 Mrs. Toogood He's an able man, he has a good bit o' land hereabouts. 1869 11 It was plain as a pike-staff that he wad syun be won o' the yebbilist men i' the country side. 1899 B. W. Green (at cited word) Able, wealthy, ‘He is an able man’. 1974 W. Leeds 45 Able, well-to-do, rich. 1990 L. Todd 20 They may be able enough now but I mind them when they hadn't tuppence. the world > action or operation > ability > [adjective] > gifted or talented 1520 sig. Avi Than saynt Thomas offered to the pope his bysshopryke in to his handes & his mytre in the crosse rynge, & the pope commaunded hym to Kepe it styll, & sayde he knewe no man so able as he was. 1577–87 W. Harrison (1877) i. ii. i. 29 Such number of able pastours as may suffice for everie parish to haue one. 1611 Exod. xviii. 21 Thou shalt prouide out of all the people able men. View more context for this quotation 1687 J. Dryden ii. 56 Those able heads expound a wiser way. 1734 tr. C. Rollin III. vii. 449 Much more able with his tongue than his sword. 1764 J. Otis 34 The fine defence of the provincial charters by Jeremy Dummer. Esq; the late very able and learned agent for the province. 1792 J. Almon (octavo ed.) III. xliv. 197 General Washington proved himself..an abler general. 1801 M. Edgeworth Forester in I. 132 Forester..was by no means so able a boxer as his opponent. 1840 T. P. Thompson (1842) V. 211 The ablest exposure of..the Factory fraud, which it has been my fortune to see. 1876 E. A. Freeman I. iii. 114 An able king is practically absolute. 1944 S. Bellow (1963) 71 Early in life he discovered that he was quicker, abler, than the rest of us. 1965 41 167 They [sc. two books] are by two young scholars, each among the ablest and best-trained Anglists in his country. 1991 J. Trollope x. 129 I'm afraid Eleanor has spoiled Ptolemy, being the youngest and unquestionably our most able child. 2005 C. Newbrook 79 Percussive Sales managers, to drown out the comments of their more able and intelligent collegues: ‘Listen up. We need to bang the drum on this one and get a buzz going.’ B. adv.the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > possibility > [adverb] > perhaps a1525 G. Myll Spectakle of Luf in W. A. Craigie (1923) I. 281 Mony ane can nocht be ware thairby, quhilk..abill sall do full grete harme to thame. c1528 D. Lindsay 893 Quho wyll go sers amang sic heirdis scheip, May, habyll, find mony pure scabbit crok. 1558 (1814) II. 507/2 Oure consent to the sade coronatioun..mycht habill preiuge ws..anent the sade successioun. a1605 R. Bannatyne (1836) 242 The hartis of them that able hes bene offendit may be molifiet. a1650 D. Calderwood (1843) II. 523 Both write and say he is evill spokin of..and able he will give credite. 1805 G. McIndoe 147 A shilling, aible aughteen-pence. 1838 W. Welsh 56 I think I'll aible gang to Heaven. 1900 A. Thompson 14 Your Kirk-Session will abil pay the piper. C. n.society > communication > writing > manner of writing > transliteration > [noun] > of letter a for code or telephone communication 1942 (U.S. Field Artillery Assoc.) §656 A Able (Afirm [sic]) B Baker C Charlie. 1943 No. 5. p. 7 The letters will be spoken in the following form A able B baker C charlie. 1966 D. Holbrook 218 ‘Hallo Roger Baker, Hallo Roger Baker. Able Zebra asks for hornet support. Roger Baker over.’ ‘Roger Baker O.K. Out’. 2006 (Nexis) 29 Aug. a04 Weather forecasters began the practice of giving [storm] names in order by first letters Able, Baker, Charlie and then opted for women's names in 1953. Compounds 1610 B. Rich xxvi. 108 Although that this penury wherewith our Eng. troops were thus pinched, had been enough to haue abated the courages of the most able minded men, [etc.]. 1750 M. Jones 169 It is not for me to direct so able-minded a Physician in the minutest part of his Art. 1871 E. F. Burr (ed. 2) iii. 39 The able-bodied and able-minded person who..lounges out his youth. 1998 (Nexis) 16 Oct. 6 a [The nation] can require education for all able-minded prison inmates who missed the school bus on their first try in life. 1849 H. D. Thoreau 81 Let not the apprehension..discourage the cheerful labors of the able-souled man. 1868 ‘G. Hamilton’ 64 It is only adding cruelty to cruelty to require of them what can be done only by able-bodied souls and able-souled bodies. 1934 G. B. Shaw On the Rocks (new ed.) Pref., in 151 Every able-bodied and able-minded and able-souled person. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022). ablev. Origin: Probably formed within English, by conversion. Or perhaps a borrowing from French. Etymons: able adj.; French abler; French abiller. Etymology: Probably partly < able adj., partly < Anglo-Norman abler, habler, hablier, habilier to empower (a person) legally (first half of the 14th cent. or earlier in Anglo-Norman, frequently with reference to empowerment to inherit; apparently < able , hable , habile able adj.), and partly < Middle French abiller, abillier, habiler, habilier, habiller (French habiller ) to prepare, to equip, to make ready (c1200 in Old French, used reflexively; c1340 with reference to equipping soldiers for war, used transitively), to dress (beginning of the 15th cent., originally used reflexively: see note). Compare Old Occitan abilhar . Compare later enable v.French habiller is probably < a- a- prefix5 + bille trunk of a tree, log (see billet n.2), and its presumed original (but unrecorded) sense appears to have been ‘to prepare a freshly felled tree trunk’. The specific senses ‘to dress’, ‘to empower, strengthen, fortify’, etc., arose by semantic specialization from the earliest, general sense ‘to prepare’. The continental French verb is thus etymologically unrelated to abile , habile able adj.; the assumption of a connection between the verb and the adjective is now generally rejected. The spelling of the French verb with initial h- , which is attested from the early 15th cent., is probably due to semantic association with habit external appearance, dress, etc. (see habit n.), and was subsequently reinforced by the frequent use of abiller, habiller in the sense ‘to dress’. See further Französisches etymol. Wörterbuch at *bilia. Speakers of English probably apprehended the French verb early on as derived from the adjective; spellings both with and without initial h and both with single and double medial l coexisted in Middle English and early modern English until the 17th cent., with no clear semantic distinction. The specific use in legal contexts is frequent in Anglo-Norman, but apparently unparalleled in continental French; moreover, in Anglo-Norman only verb spellings with single medial -l- appear to be attested. This argues in favour of a de-adjectival derivation of the Anglo-Norman verb. †1. the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > adaptation or adjustment > adapt or adjust [verb (transitive)] a1400 in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell (1845) II. 44 (MED) Siche myrthe more undisposith a man to paciencie and ablith to glotonye and to othere vicis. a1425 (?a1400) (Harl. 674) (1944) 70 (MED) Þe presence þerof abliþ a soule for to haue it & for to fele it. c1449 R. Pecock (1860) 324 (MED) It is not semeli..that bischopis..schulden do and vse deedis strecching and disposing and abling into the grettist vnpitee and grettist cruelnes. c1450 J. Lydgate Stans Puer (Lamb. 853) in (2002) i. 27 First þi silf able with al þin herte to vertuose discipline. 1530 sig. Aivv There are but fewe in number that do able them thus faythfully to grace. a1550 ( G. Ripley (Bodl. e Mus.) f. 51 (MED) Putrefaction..is of bodies the sleinge..The killed bodies into corruption furthre leadynge And afterwarde vnto regeneration them habiling. 1582 R. Stanyhurst in tr. Virgil 94 This new strange passadge winter his hoarnes habled. 1601 R. Verstegan 83 Of mee his mercies-miracle to make, By abling mee his deputy to bee. 1643 W. Slatyer iii. vi. 340 We better prepared by vicissitude and change, may..[be] Better abled for it, and fitter to rest. the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > provide with clothing [verb (transitive)] 1449 V. 147/2 The Kyngs Oncle hath commaunded..that all Nobles prepare them to be redy horsed, armed, and in all wyse abilled as longeth to men of Armes. ?c1450 tr. (1906) 159 (MED) He abled hym selff in an other gowne. 1457 Sc. Acts Jas. I, c. 70 in F. M. Eden (1797) III. p. cclxxx At thai mak thar wifis and dochteris in lik maner be abeilʒeit..corespondande for thar estate. 1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan i. vii. 17 Be he habylled rychely in harnoys and mountures. a1492 W. Caxton tr. (1495) i. lvi. f. cxi/1 To habylle & put theim in armes. a1492 W. Caxton tr. (1495) i. li. f. cviii/2 The holy man Abraham thus habilled and arayed..lepe vp on an horse. c1500 (1895) 4 Some retourned in-to their contrees to abile them self for the warres whiche were dispuruaide there. a1522 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil (1960) xii. Prol. l. 34 Abilȝeit in hys lemand fresch array, Furth of hys palyce ryall ischit Phebus. 1652 F. Kirkman tr. 128 He stayed there so long till Lozia was habilled. 2. society > law > legal capacity > invest with legal status or capacity [verb (transitive)] 1409 in M. Sellers (1915) II. 178 (MED) Yf he take apon hym at any tyme to set uppe and occupy als maister in the sayd crafte, before he be serched and abled..he to forfet xx s. 1472–3 VI. 27/1 That by the same auctorite the same John be abled in your lawe to sewe, clayme, inherite, and joy all maner of Hereditaments. 1482 W. Cely Let. 3 Sept. in (1975) 174 I hawe born ynto the Plase yowre byllys off costom and subsede whych be abelyd yn courtt. 1505 in R. W. Greaves (1956) 59 It is abyled and stedfastely acted from this day. 1591 in H. C. Johnson (1949) 143 It is ordered that if Christopher Northe be abled by law to be an apprentice that then he shall serve. c1600 J. Strype (1709) xxvii. 284 That none be abled in law to receive any benefice..unless he be a preacher. 1679 Bp. G. Burnet I. iii. 253 That ye being absent from your Benefices..do suffer no Priest to keep your Cure, unless he being first by you presented, and by me or my Officers thereunto abled and admitted. a1425 J. Wyclif (1871) II. 416 (MED) Crist ablide Scarioth sumwhat to do wel his office. ?a1475 (1922) 72 (MED) Þat I may leve to se hire..and Abyl me to ley my handys vndyr hire fayr fete. 1502 tr. (de Worde) iv. iv. sig. r.iiii v It hym dysposeth ableth to contynue in good werkes. 1586 in J. Bruce (1844) 402 If we may be abled to keepe our companies together so longe. a1617 S. Hieron Penance for Sinne in (1620) II. 249 Indowments..whereby the hauer of them is abled of God to performe & to discharge the seruices of that calling. 1693 J. Evelyn (1857) III. 335 If God shall me able. 1876 C. C. Robinson 159/1 Yabble is also heard thus generally as an active verb, to enable. 1908 J. Payne 96 Will ever a speech be found, that is common to both, a speech, That will able our aching hearts those other hearts to reach? 1995 J. M. Sims-Kimbrey 3/2 Ayer abled ter do it? 2001 (Nexis) 30 Mar. Such a system also provides for abling or disabling the system with a remote switch. society > authority > power > make powerful [verb (transitive)] c1425 (Egerton) (1967) l. 914 Grace in this seuen [sc. sacraments] heles man of al gastly sore, And seuen vertues ables him that thou red before. ?1483 W. Caxton tr. iv. sig. hviv In lyke wyse by ofte studyeng..men able them in what someuer scyence that it be. ?1548 J. Bale (new ed.) i. Pref. sig. Bvv The apostle of bothe testamentes, abled both by the law and the gospell. 1592 W. Wyrley Capitall de Buz in ii. 115 Ioue abled much our might. a1631 J. Donne Resurrection in (1633) 31 And life, by this death abled, shall controule Death. 1658 W. Sanderson 732 Now abled in power with advantage of the march. the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > attest, bear witness [verb (transitive)] > furnish evidence, vouch for ?1489 in M. Bateson (1901) II. 322 We shall dewly and trewly serche and assay a[ll maner] of ale..[and] that whiche is good we shall able. 1576 A. Fleming tr. Erasmus in 342 If you doe enter acquaintaunce and familiaritie with him, this muche I dare able [etc.]. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. v. 164 None do's offend, none, I say none, Ile able 'em. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online June 2022). > see alsoalso refers to : -ablesuffix <  adj.adv.n.a1382 v.a1400see also |
