capable

capable
\ \ [16] In common with a wide range of other English words, from capture to recuperate, capable comes from Latin caperetake’, a relative of English heave. An adjective derived from the verb was Latin capāxable to hold much’, from which English gets capacious [17] and capacity [15]. From its stem capāci- was formed the late Latin adjective capābilis, also originally ‘able to contain things’. This meaning still survived when the word passed, via French capable, into English (‘They are almost capable of a bushel of wheat’, Thomas Wright, The Passions of the Mind 1601), but by the end of the 18th century it had died out, having passed into the current ‘able to, susceptible of’.
\ \ Cf.CAPACIOUS, CAPACITY, CAPTURE, CHASE, HEAVE, RECUPERATE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • capable — [ kapabl ] adj. • XIVe; bas lat. capabilis, de capere « contenir, être susceptible de » I ♦ 1 ♦ Vx Qui a le pouvoir, la possibilité de recevoir, de supporter. Les hommes sont « indignes de Dieu, et capables de Dieu » (Pascal). Capable d une joie …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • capable — CAPABLE. adj. des 2 g. Qui a les qualités requises pour quelque chose. C est un homme capable de gouverner. C est un homme capable des plus grandes choses. Il n est capable de rien. f♛/b] Il se dit aussi De ceux qui ont l âge compétent pour… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • Capable — Ca pa*ble, a. [F. capable, LL. capabilis capacious, capable, fr. L. caper to take, contain. See {Heave}.] 1. Possessing ability, qualification, or susceptibility; having capacity; of sufficient size or strength; as, a room capable of holding a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • capable — CAPABLE. adj. de tout genre, Habile, intelligent. En ce sens il se dit absolument. Un homme capable. Mettre une affaire, une charge entre les mains d une personne capable. Il signifie aussi, Celuy qui a les qualitez requises pour faire quelque… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • capable — I adjective able, accomplished, adept, adequate, adroit, aptus, competent, deft, effective, effectual, equal to, expert, facile, fit, fitted, gifted, idoneus, masterly, potent, proficient, qualified, skillful, suited, worthy associated concepts:… …   Law dictionary

  • capable — Capable, Capax. Capable de pouvoir entendre que c est d amitié, et comme il s y faut maintenir, Capax amicitiae. Il n est point capable de tenir office, Capere magistratum non potest. B. ex Cicerone …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • capable — [kā′pə bəl] adj. [Fr < LL capabilis < L capere, to take: see HAVE] having ability; able to do things well; skilled; competent SYN. ABLE capable of 1. susceptible of; admitting of; open to 2. having the ability or qualities necessary for 3.… …   English World dictionary

  • capable — competent, qualified, *able Analogous words: efficient, *effective, effectual, efficacious Antonyms: incapable Contrasted words: incompetent, unqualified (see IN CAPABLE) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • capable — ► ADJECTIVE 1) (capable of) having the ability or quality necessary to do. 2) able to achieve efficiently whatever one has to do. DERIVATIVES capably adverb. ORIGIN French, from Latin capere take or hold …   English terms dictionary

  • capable of — 1. Able to take in, contain, understand, etc (archaic) 2. Sufficiently able, good, well made, etc to, or sufficiently bad, foolish, etc, to (followed by verbal noun or other action noun) 3. Susceptible of • • • Main Entry: ↑capable …   Useful english dictionary

  • capable — 1560s, from L.L. capabilis receptive, used by theologians, from L. 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;… …   Etymology dictionary

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