suff. Ability, inclination, or suitability for a specified action or condition: teachability. [Middle English -abilitie, from Old French -abilite, from Latin -ābilitās, from -ābilis, -able.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. pl. a·bil·i·ties 1. a. The quality of being able to do something, especially the physical, mental, financial, or legal power to accomplish something. b. A skill, talent, or capacity: a student of many abilities. 2. The quality of being suitable for or receptive to a specified treatment: the ability of a computer to be configured for use as a file server. See Usage Note at able. [Middle English abilite, from Old French habilite, from Latin habilitās, from habilis, handy; see ABLE.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.