Ability

Etymology
First attested in the 1300s. From, from , from , from , from , equivalent to.

Noun

 * 1)  Suitableness.
 * 2)  The quality or state of being able; capacity to do or of doing something; having the necessary power.
 * 3) The legal wherewithal to act.
 * 4)  Physical power.
 * 5)  Financial ability.
 * 6)  A unique power of the mind; a faculty.
 * 7)  A skill or competence in doing; mental power; talent; aptitude.
 * 8) * 1769, , 11:29
 * Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren.
 * 1)  A unique power of the mind; a faculty.
 * 2)  A skill or competence in doing; mental power; talent; aptitude.
 * 3) * 1769, , 11:29
 * Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren.
 * 1) * 1769, , 11:29
 * Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren.
 * Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren.

Usage notes

 * Ability, capacity : these words come into comparison when applied to the higher intellectual powers.
 * Ability has reference to the active exercise of our faculties. It implies not only native vigor of mind, but that ease and promptitude of execution which arise from mental training. Thus, we speak of the ability with which a book is written, an argument maintained, a negotiation carried on, etc. It always supposes something to be done, and the power of doing it.
 * Capacity has reference to the receptive powers. In its higher exercises it supposes great quickness of apprehension and breadth of intellect, with an uncommon aptitude for acquiring and retaining knowledge. Hence it carries with it the idea of resources and undeveloped power. Thus we speak of the extraordinary capacity of such men as, , and . "Capacity," says H. Taylor, "is requisite to devise, and ability to execute, a great enterprise."
 * The word abilities, in the plural, embraces both these qualities, and denotes high mental endowments.

Synonyms

 * See Thesaurus:skill
 * See Thesaurus:skill

Translations

 * American Sign Language: S@Sternumhigh-PalmDown-S@Sternumhigh-PalmDown S@Chesthigh-PalmDown-S@Chesthigh-PalmDown
 * Arabic: قُدْرَة, مَقْدِرَة, اِسْتِطَاعَة, وُسْع
 * Egyptian Arabic: قدرة, مقدرة, إستطاعة
 * Armenian: ,
 * Asturian: capacidá, habilidá
 * Bashkir: һәләт
 * Basque: gaitasun, trebetasun, abilezia
 * Belarusian:
 * Bikol Central: urag
 * Bulgarian:, ,
 * Catalan: ,
 * Chinese:
 * Mandarin:
 * Cornish: gallos
 * Czech:
 * Danish: evne
 * Dutch: ,
 * Esperanto: povo
 * Estonian: võime,
 * Finnish:, ,
 * French:, ,
 * Galician: ,
 * Georgian: შესაძლებლობა, უნარი
 * German:
 * Greek:
 * Hebrew:
 * Hindi:, ,
 * Hungarian:
 * Interlingue: habilitá
 * Irish: ábaltacht,
 * Italian:
 * Japanese:
 * Khmer: សមត្ថភាព,
 * Korean:
 * Kurdish:
 * Central Kurdish: ,


 * Kyrgyz:
 * Lakota: wóokihi
 * Latin: prudentia, calliditas, calliditas, solertia,, , , , sollers acumen, , potentia, habilitas
 * Lithuanian: gebėjimas
 * Macedonian: способност
 * Malay: kebolehan کبوليهن
 * Maltese: abilità
 * Manx: jargaght
 * Maori: āheitanga
 * Mongolian:
 * Norwegian:
 * Polish:
 * Portuguese: ,
 * Quechua:
 * Romanian:, , ,
 * Russian: ,
 * Scots: abeelity
 * Scottish Gaelic: dìorachd, murrachas, murraiche, abaltachd, foladh, acmhaing
 * Serbo-Croatian:
 * Cyrillic: спосо́бно̄ст
 * Roman:
 * Slovene: zmožnost
 * Spanish: ,
 * Swahili:
 * Swedish:
 * Tagalog: kakayahan
 * Telugu: ,
 * Thai:
 * Tibetan: ནུས་པ
 * Urdu: یوگیتا, یوگیتو
 * Vietnamese: (能力)
 * Volapük:
 * Welsh:


 * American Sign Language:
 * Armenian:
 * Belarusian:
 * Bulgarian:, ,
 * Crimean Tatar: qabiliyet
 * Dutch:
 * Finnish: ,
 * Galician:
 * Greek:
 * Haitian Creole: abilite
 * Italian:
 * Japanese: ,
 * Kurdish:
 * Central Kurdish:


 * Latin:
 * Maltese:
 * Maori:, āheitanga, āheinga
 * Mongolian:
 * Portuguese:
 * Romanian:, , ,
 * Russian: ,
 * Spanish:
 * Swahili:
 * Swedish: ,
 * Tagalog:
 * Thai:
 * Volapük:


 * Dutch: ,
 * Finnish:
 * Galician:, pericia, mestría
 * Greek:, ,


 * Portuguese:, , , mestria
 * Romanian:
 * Tagalog:


 * Dutch:


 * Gothic:


 * Vietnamese:, , , , , ,