Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Capable
Ca′pa-ble
,Adj.
1.
Possessing ability, qualification, or susceptibility; having capacity; of sufficient size or strength;
as, a room
. capable
of holding a large number; a castle capable
of resisting a long assaultConcious of joy and
capable
of pain. Prior.
2.
Possessing adequate power; qualified; able; fully competent;
as, a
. capable
instructor; a capable
judge; a mind capable
of nice investigationsMore
capable
to discourse of battles than to give them. Motley.
3.
Possessing legal power or capacity;
as, a man
. capable
of making a contract, or a will4.
Capacious; large; comprehensive.
[Obs.]
Shak.
Syn. – Able; competent; qualified; fitted; efficient; effective; skillful.
Webster 1828 Edition
Capable
CAPABLE
,Adj.
1.
Able to hold or contain; able to receive; sufficiently capacious; often followed by of; as, the room is not capable of receiving, or capable of holding the company.2.
Endued with power competent to the object; as, a man is capable of judging, or he is not capable.3.
Possessing mental powers; intelligent; able to understand, or receive into the mind; having a capacious mind; as a capable judge; a capable instructor.4.
Susceptible; as, capable of pain or grief.5.
Qualified for; susceptible of; as, a thing is capable of long duration; or it is capable of being colored or altered.6.
Qualified for, in a moral sense; having legal power or capacity; as, a bastard is not capable of inheriting an estate.7.
Hollow.Definition 2024
capable
capable
English
Adjective
capable (comparative more capable, superlative most capable)
- Able and efficient; having the ability needed for a specific task; having the disposition to do something; permitting or being susceptible to something.
- She is capable and efficient.
- He does not need help; he is capable of eating on his own.
- As everyone knew, he was capable of violence when roused.
- That fact is not capable of proof.
- (obsolete) Of sufficient capacity or size for holding, containing, receiving or taking in. Construed with of, for or an infinitive.
- 1775 Samuel Johnson, A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland (Works 10.479):
- He has begun a road capable of a wheel-carriage.
- 1775 Samuel Johnson, A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland (Works 10.479):
Synonyms
- See also Wikisaurus:skillful
Antonyms
Derived terms
- capability noun
Translations
able and efficient
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References
- J[ohn] A. Simpson and E[dward] S. C. Weiner, editors (1989) The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, ISBN 978-0-19-861186-8.