Meaning
Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task.
Etymology
Origin: Middle English
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti Proto-Indo-European *gʰh₁bʰéh₁yeti Proto-Italic *haβēō Latin habeō Proto-Indo-European *-elis Proto-Italic *-elis Latin -ilis Latin habilis Old French ablebor. Middle English able English able From Middle English able, from Old Northern French able, variant of Old French abile, habile, from Latin habilis (“easily managed, held, or handled; apt; skillful”). Doublet of habile.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 21 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-07-04BAEHILT
- 2026-05-26EAKCBIL
- 2026-04-14BALECIY
- 2026-03-03ABCEKLO
- 2025-12-14BVANIEL
- 2025-10-12BACEILT
- 2025-09-05ABEJLNY
- 2025-05-31LYAVEBO
- 2025-03-03BATGELV
- 2024-12-20BAPLEOW
- 2024-11-06LABEJNY
- 2024-08-23BAPLEOT
+9 earlier appearances in the archive.