Dictionary / capable
capable
- adjective
- from Middle French
Able and efficient; having the ability needed for a specific task; having the disposition to do something; permitting or being susceptible to something.
1 All current definitions
Every sense of “capable” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.
adjective
- 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.
Older & obsolete senses (1)
- obsoleteOf sufficient capacity or size for holding, containing, receiving or taking in; accessible to. Construed with of, for or an infinitive.
Cross-check: WordNet senses (5)
- adjective(usually followed by `of') having capacity or ability
- adjectivepossibly accepting or permitting — also: open, subject
- adjective(followed by `of') having the temperament or inclination for
- adjectivehaving the requisite qualities for — also: adequate to, equal to, up to
- adjectivehave the skills and qualifications to do things well — also: able
2 History of the word
The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.
The word’s journey, newest to oldest:
- English (today)capable
- Middle Frenchcapable
- Late Latincapābilis
Borrowed from Middle French capable, from Late Latin capābilis.
Derivatives — words built from “capable”
Phrases & compounds
Related terms
Want to go deeper? See also “capable” on Etymonline ↗
3 Original language
Where “capable” came from before it was English.
4 Original meaning
What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.
Wiktionary’s etymology does not give a separate meaning for the earliest form of “capable”, so we don’t state one. The historical dictionary entry below shows how the word was understood in 1913.
Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913
A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.
capable a. [F. capable, LL. capabilis capacious, capable, fr. L. caper to take, contain. See Heave.]
- 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 assault.
- Possessing adequate power; qualified; able; fully competent; as, a capable instructor; a capable judge; a mind capable of nice investigations.
- Possessing legal power or capacity; as, a man capable of making a contract, or a will.
- Capacious; large; comprehensive.
5 Use it with confidence
Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.
adjectiveMeaning: 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.
adjectiveMeaning: (usually followed by `of') having capacity or ability
capable of winning
capable of hard work
adjectiveMeaning: possibly accepting or permitting
a passage capable of misinterpretation
adjectiveMeaning: (followed by `of') having the temperament or inclination for
no one believed her capable of murder
adjectiveMeaning: have the skills and qualifications to do things well
a capable administrator
children as young as 14 can be extremely capable and dependable
Three steps to owning it
- Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
- Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
- Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?
6 The mastery game
Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.
Say it, then spell it
capable
/ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/ · ca·pa·ble
Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.
Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________
capable
/ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/ · ca·pa·ble · adjective
Step 1 — Say it and write it
Say “capable” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.
Step 2 — Know every meaning
Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.
Step 3 — History and origin
Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):
Write three words built from “capable” and what each means:
Step 4 — Original meaning
Read the etymology on the page. What does it tell you about the word’s earlier meaning?
How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?
Step 5 — Use it yourself
☐ I can explain its meanings ☐ I know its history ☐ I know its original language ☐ I know its original meaning ☐ I can use it confidently
Answer key — capable
Origin: B. Middle French (Middle French capable)
Journey: English capable ← Middle French capable ← Late Latin capābilis
Some derivatives: capability, capableness, capably, FMC, handicapable, incapable, noncapable, non-capable
Etymology: Borrowed from Middle French capable, from Late Latin capābilis.
Sources: Wiktionary “capable” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/capable#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/capable