able
['ebl.]
a. 干, 够

1. He is an able man.
   。
2. As I had plenty of money I was able to help her.
   很裕，助她。
3. She bet me 20 that I wouldn't be able to give up smoking.
   她20英镑赌, 戒.

able
[ adj ]

1. (usually followed by `to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

<adj.all>
able to swim
she was able to program her computer
we were at last able to buy a car
able to get a grant for the project

2. have the skills and qualifications to do things well

<adj.all>
able teachers
a capable administrator
children as young as 14 can be extremely capable and dependable

3. having inherent physical or mental ability or capacity

<adj.all>
able to learn
human beings are able to walk on two feet
Superman is able to leap tall buildings

4. having a strong healthy body

<adj.all>
an able seaman
every able-bodied young man served in the army

Able \A"ble\, a. [comp. {Abler}; superl. {Ablest}.] [OF. habile,
L. habilis that may be easily held or managed, apt, skillful,
fr. habere to have, hold. Cf. {Habile} and see {Habit}.]
1. Fit; adapted; suitable. [Obs.]

A many man, to ben an abbot able. --Chaucer.

2. Having sufficient power, strength, force, skill, means, or
resources of any kind to accomplish the object; possessed
of qualifications rendering competent for some end;
competent; qualified; capable; as, an able workman,
soldier, seaman, a man able to work; a mind able to
reason; a person able to be generous; able to endure pain;
able to play on a piano.

3. Specially: Having intellectual qualifications, or strong
mental powers; showing ability or skill; talented; clever;
powerful; as, the ablest man in the senate; an able
speech.

No man wrote abler state papers. --Macaulay.

4. (Law) Legally qualified; possessed of legal competence;
as, able to inherit or devise property.

Note:

{Able for}, is Scotticism.

``Hardly able for such a march.'' --Robertson.

Syn: Competent; qualified; fitted; efficient; effective;
capable; skillful; clever; vigorous; powerful.


Able \A"ble\, v. t. [See {Able}, a.] [Obs.]
1. To make able; to enable; to strengthen. --Chaucer.

2. To vouch for. ``I 'll able them.'' --Shak.