Etymology of the English word able
the English word
ablederived from the Old French word
hablederived from the Classical Latin word
habilis (able; easy to hold, manageable, apt; handy, manageable; apt)
derived from the Latin word
habere (to have, hold; have, hold, consider)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ghabh-using the Latin suffix
-ilis (-ile)
Date
The earliest known usage of able in English dates from the 14th century.
Derivations in English
disable,
deceivable,
enable,
unable,
ablyCognates
French
habile, Italian
abile, Provençal
habilUsage
Word found in Modern English
