capable









capable


adjective

  1. having power and ability; efficient; competent: a capable instructor.
Idioms

  1. capable of,
    1. having the ability or capacity for: a man capable of judging art.
    2. open to the influence or effect of; susceptible of: a situation capable of improvement.
    3. predisposed to; inclined to: capable of murder.

adjective

  1. having ability, esp in many different fields; competent
  2. (postpositive foll by of) able or having the skill (to do something)she is capable of hard work
  3. (postpositive foll by of) having the temperament or inclination (to do something)he seemed capable of murder
adj.

1560s, from Middle French capable or directly from Late Latin capabilis “receptive; able to grasp or hold,” used by theologians, from Latin capax “able to hold much, broad, wide, roomy;” also “receptive, fit for;” adjectival form of capere “to grasp, lay hold, take, catch; undertake; take in, hold; be large enough for; comprehend,” from PIE *kap- “to grasp” (cf. Sanskrit kapati “two handfuls;” Greek kaptein “to swallow, gulp down;” Lettish kampiu “seize;” Old Irish cacht “servant-girl,” literally “captive;” Welsh caeth “captive, slave;” Gothic haban “have, hold;” Old English hæft “handle,” habban “to have, hold,” Modern English have). Related: Capably.

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