CS Knowledge Base

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French capable, from Late Latin capābilis.

Pronunciation

(Received Pronunciation, General American, Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈkeɪ.pə.bəl/, [ˈkʰeɪ̯.pə.bɫ̩]
Audio (US); [ˈkʰeɪ̯.pə.bɫ̩]: (file)
(nonstandard) IPA^(key): /ˈkeɪ.bə.bəl/
Hyphenation: ca‧pa‧ble

Adjective

capable (comparative more capable, superlative most capable)

Able and efficient; having the ability needed for a specific task; having the disposition to do something; permitting or being susceptible to something.
She is capable and efficient.

He does not need help; he is capable of eating on his own.

As everyone knew, he was capable of violence when roused.

That fact is not capable of proof.
- 1732, John Conybeare, A Defence of Reveal'd Religion Against the Exceptions of a Late Writer, in His Book, Intituled, Christianity as Old as the Creation, &c, Simon & Schuster, page 18:
  They are neither capable of forming to themſelves a Rule, nor of diſcovering a Law-giver, nor of having the Rule enforc’d on them by the Proſpect of future Good or Ill.
- 1972, Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren, How to Read a Book, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 17:
  The attainment of the skills of elementary reading occurred some time ago for almost all who read this book. Nevertheless, we continue to experience the problems of this level of reading, no matter how capable we may be as readers.
(obsolete) Of sufficient capacity or size for holding, containing, receiving or taking in; accessible to. Construed with of, for or an infinitive.
- 1672, Lord Herbert, The Life and Reign of King Henry the Eighth, page 594:
  The place chosen was the cathedral church, capable of about 400 persons.
- 1695, John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, page 108:
  [...] deſignation only to thoſe things, which have parts, and are capable of increaſe or diminution [...]
- 1754, Thomas Chubb, A Collection of Tracts on Various Subjects, volume 2, page 43:
  Again, I farther obſerve, that as man is a compound being, ſo this renders him capable of ſeveral diſtinct kinds of pleaſure [...]
- 1775, Samuel Johnson, A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland (Works 10.479), page 304:
  He has begun a road capable of a wheel-carriage.