Ablest

Ablest
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.] [1913 Webster]

A many man, to ben an abbot able. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

No man wrote abler state papers. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

4. (Law) Legally qualified; possessed of legal competence; as, able to inherit or devise property. [1913 Webster]

Note:

{Able for}, is Scotticism.

``Hardly able for such a march.'' --Robertson. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Competent; qualified; fitted; efficient; effective; capable; skillful; clever; vigorous; powerful. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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