Ability

  

Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.

Ability

Definitions: Ability

Ability

Noun

1. The quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment.

2. Possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done; "danger heightened his powers of discrimination".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "ability" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1258. (references)



Specialty Definitions: Ability

DomainDefinitions

Satire

ABILITY, n. The natural equipment to accomplish some small part of the meaner ambitions distinguishing able men from dead ones. In the last analysis ability is commonly found to consist mainly in a high degree of solemnity. Perhaps, however, this impressive quality is rightly appraised; it is no easy task to be solemn. Source: Devil's Dictionary.

Tips from 1870

Usage: Ability, Capacity. A fond mother was told by the principal of a boarding-school that her daughter would not be graduated, as she lacked capacity. "Get her a capacity. Her father don't stand on the matter of expense. Get her anything she wants. He'll foot the bill." But for once the indulgent mother was obliged to learn that there are some things money will not purchase. The father had the financial ability, but the daughter lacked the necessary intellectual capacity. But we may have literary as well as financial ability. Ability implies the power of doing; capacity the faculty of receiving. Source: Slips of Speech.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Synonym: Ability

Synonym: power (n). (additional references)
Antonym: inability (n). (additional references)

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Synonyms within Context: Ability

ContextSynonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).

Intellect

Noun: intellect, mind, understanding, reason, thinking principle; rationality; cogitative faculties, cognitive faculties, discursive faculties, reasoning faculties, intellectual faculties; faculties, senses, consciousness, observation, percipience, intelligence, intellection, intuition, association of ideas, instinct, conception, judgment, wits, parts, capacity, intellectuality, genius; brains, cognitive powers, intellectual powers; wit; ability; (skill); wisdom; Vernunft, Verstand.

Power

Ability; ableness; Adjective: competency; efficacy; efficiency, productivity, expertise (skill) ; validity, cogency; enablement; vantage ground; influence.

Skill

Cleverness, talent, ability, ingenuity, capacity, parts, talents, faculty, endowment, forte, turn, gift, genius; intelligence; sharpness, readiness; (activity); invention; aptness, aptitude; turn for, capacity for, genius for; felicity, capability, curiosa felicitas, qualification, habilitation.

Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

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.

Crosswords: Ability

English words defined with "ability": learning abilitymagical ability, mental abilitynatural abilityphysical ability. (references)
Specialty definitions using "ability": ability tax, Ability to speak English, absorbent formation, absorbent substance, Access area, accommodation ability, Accountability, Acetylmuraminsaeure, Acid Neutralizing Capacity, acid strength, Acute toxicity, additional information type, adhesive medium, AGENT-CONTRACT CLERK, agglutinating value, AIDS Dementia Complex, AIDS-related dementia, air-carrier operations inspector, alternate use, American FactFinder, Amyl Nitrite, Anaphylatoxins, ANGELO, angular resolution, Antifungal Agents, Anti-Infective Agents, Quinolone, APPLICATIONS ENGINEER, MANUFACTURING, Aptitude Tests, arching action, Armament Research Department, armed sweep, artificial seed, Audiometry, Speech, Auditory Perceptual Disorders, Autoantigens, automatic vehicle location, Automobile Drivingback-fire, barring of all incoming calls, behavioral simulation, behavioural simulation, BIBX 1382, bi-endian, binding agent, Bioavailabiliity, bioavailable, biologic capacity, biologic potential, biological capacity, Biological Integrity, biological potential, Biological Response Modifiers, biological therapy, Biomed 101, biotic potential, borrowing capacity, bottom stone, Burns, byte manipulation, byte modecall forwarding unconditional, Cambridge ring, Canoe, Capacity Assurance Plan, capacity of the market, carcinogenicity, Catastrophic crop insurance, cause outside one's control, C-BC, CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins, Cell Aging, cell motility, Cell Transformation, Neoplastic, chameleons, Characterization of Ecological Effects, Chemokines, chemosterilant, child development specialist, choir leader, CHORAL DIRECTOR, Chromaffin Cells, circumstances outside one's control, coactivated T cells, Coefficient of Heat Transmission, coefficient ofpermeability, co-location, Color Rendering or Rendition, Color Rendition, Color Vision Defects, colour vision, Comamonas acidovorans, Comamonas testosteroni, compatibility of programs, Complement 5a, des-Arginine, cone vision, Consciousness Disorders, CONTINUOUS OPERATION, contract administrator, Contrast Sensitivity, corrective teaching. (references)
Etymologies containing "ability": FluctuabilityHabilityWritability. (references)

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Modern Usage: Ability

DomainUsage

Screenplays

It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. (American Beauty; writing credit: Alan Ball)

You're 5 foot and nothin', a hundred and nothin', not one ounce of athletic ability, yet you hung in with the best college football team in the land and are gonna walk out of here with a degree from the University of Notre Dame. (Rudy; writing credit: Angelo Pizzo)

I think it is time we inform the senate that our ability to use the force has diminished. (Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones; writing credit: George Lucas)

The ability to let that which does not matter truly slide. (Fight Club; writing credit: Jim Uhls)

Why is that? Because money's most powerful ability is to allow bad people to continue doing bad things at the expense of those who don't have it. (Sneakers; writing credit: Phil Alden Robinson, Lawrence Lasker, and Walter F. Parkes.)

Lyrics

And your ability to reason, is swept away ("Everybody Plays the Fool"; performing artist: Aaron Neville)

She has a built in ability ("Invisible Touch"; performing artist: Genesis)

Clever

Availability is better than ability for God. (references; author: unknown)

Grace is the divine ability to cope with every circumstance. (references; author: unknown)

Tact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves. (references; author: unknown)

Ability can take you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there. (references; author: unknown)

The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the ability to reach it. (references; author: unknown)

Movie/TV Titles

Seniority Versus Ability (1968)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Commercial Usage: Ability

DomainTitle

Books

  • Ability Development from Age Zero (reference)

  • At a Journal Workshop: Writing to Access the Power of the Unconscious and Evoke Creative Ability (Inner Workbook) (reference)

  • Meditations for Enhancing Your Immune System: Strengthen Your Body's Ability to Heal/Cassette/263 (reference)

  • Shit Magnet: One Man's Miraculous Ability to Absorb the World's Guilt (reference)

  • Spontaneous Healing : How to Discover and Embrace Your Body's Natural Ability to Maintain and Heal Itself (reference)

    (more book examples)

  

Periodicals

  

Theater & Movies

  • Consistent Tennis Wins V: The Ability to Swing (reference)

  • Develop Psychic Ability Now (reference)

  • Yoga Inside & Out: Exploring Your Chakras with Batsheva (Seven Half-Hour Classes for All levels of Ability, A Two-Volume Set) (reference)

    (more DVD examples; more video examples)

  

Music

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Photo Album: Ability

ThumbnailDescription & Credit

Area manager explaining how Starthistle has taken away his ability to meet the objectives of the Wilderness Study Area along the Lower Salmon River.Credit: Jerry Asher.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Familiar Quotations: Ability

AuthorQuotation

Francis Bacon

Studies serve for delight, for ornaments, and for ability.

Goethe

To accept good advice is but to increase one's own ability.

Henry David Thoreau

Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.

M. Wren

Ability is a poor man's wealth.

Marcus T. Cicero

Ability without honor is useless.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Ability is of little account without opportunity.

Ovid

The will is commendable though the ability may be wanting.

Seneca

The foremost art of kings is the ability to endure hatred.

Titus Maccius Plautus

Wisdom is not attained by years, but by ability.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Historic Usage: Ability

AuthorDateQuotation

John Locke

1690

Wherein one cannot but admire the wisdom of the great Creator, who having given to man foresight, and an ability to lay up for the future, as well as to supply the present necessity, hath made it necessary, that society of man and wife should be more lasting, than of male and female amongst other creatures; that so their industry might be encouraged, and their interest better united, to make provision and lay up goods for their common issue, which uncertain mixture, or easy and frequent solutions of conjugal society would mightily disturb. (Second Treatise of Government)

US Constitution

1791

Clause 8: Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." Section. (reference)

Treaty of Versailles

1919

In reaching a decision on this matter the Commission shall take into account such domestic requirements of Germany as it deems essential for the maintenance of Germany's social and economic life, the prices and dates at which similar articles can be obtained in the Allied and Associated countries as compared with those to be fixed for German articles, and the general interest of the Allied and Associated Governments that the industrial life of Germany be not so disorganised as to affect adversely the ability of Germany to perform the other acts of reparation stipulated for. (reference)

Brown v. Board of Education

1954

In McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, supra, the Court, in requiring that a Negro admitted to a white graduate school be treated like all other students, again resorted to intangible considerations: "his ability to study, to engage in discussions and exchange views with other students, and, in general, to learn his profession." (reference)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Use in Literature: Ability

TitleAuthorQuote

Scarlet Letter

Hawthorne, Nathaniel

It must have been a work of vast ability in the somniferous school of literature.

Les Miserables

Hugo, Victor

Indeed, let no one forget, wherever there is ability only, there is necessarily pettiness.

Trainspotting

Irvine Welsh

He wonders if perhaps Sick Boy's success with women is based on his ability to raise one eyebrow.

Walden

Thoreau, Henry David

I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Non-Fiction Usage: Ability

SubjectTopicQuote

Health

This weakens the heart's pumping ability. (references)

Measures of the bladder's ability to hold and release urine. (references)

These changes impair the nerves' ability to transmit signals. (references)

Business

Purchasing ability of Russian companies decreased. (references)

At present, China's ability to provide these services is limited. (references)

It has a limited domestic ability to provide these services at present. (references)

Children

Malawi

Accepted economic and social practice hampers the ability of women and girls to gain an education. (references)

Bhutan

The closure of the schools acts as an effective barrier to the ability of the ethnic Nepalese in southern areas to obtain a primary education. (references)

Congo

Extremely poor economic circumstances often hamper parents' ability to afford these added expenses, meaning that children may not be able to attend school. (references)

Civil Liberties

Uzbekistan

The law limits the ability to criticize the President. (references)

South Africa

Internet access is unrestricted for persons with the ability to pay for the service. (references)

India

At the state level, regional political parties have the ability to censor regional media. (references)

Discrimination

Yemen

Entrenched cultural attitudes often affect women's ability to enjoy equal rights. (references)

Romania

In September 2000, the Government issued an emergency ordinance that outlaws discrimination based on a number of factors and introduces the ability to sue on the grounds of discrimination; however, implementation of the decree, primarily through the creation of a National Council on Combating Discrimination, had not occurred by year's end. (references)

Economic History

Venezuela

Decree 2095 guarantee the ability to remit funds for franchising rights. (references)

Human Rights

Malawi

The NCT's lack of funds limits its ability to settle claims. (references)

Burundi

Many citizens have lost confidence in the system's ability to provide even basic protection. (references)

Malaysia

Contempt of court charges also have restricted the ability of defendants and their attorneys to defend themselves. (references)

Indigenous People

Bangladesh

Tribal people have had a marginal ability to influence decisions concerning the use of their lands. (references)

Congo

Many never have heard of the concept of voting and had minimal ability to influence government decisions affecting their interests. (references)

Paraguay

Lack of access to sufficient land also hinders the ability of indigenous groups to progress economically and maintain their cultural identity. (references)

Minorities

Kyrgyz Republic

Candidates in the 2000 presidential election were required to demonstrate ability in Kyrgyz. (references)

Japan

Obstacles to naturalization include broad discretion available to adjudicating officers and great emphasis on Japanese-language ability. (references)

Burma

Rohingyas who have returned to Arakan claimed that they faced government restrictions on their ability to travel and to engage in economic activity. (references)

Political Economy

Turkmenistan

Citizens did not have the ability to change their government peacefully. (references)

GREECE

Foreign debt does not affect Greece's ability to import U.S. goods and services. (references)

Samoa

Societal pressures and customary law may interfere with the ability to conduct fair trials. (references)

Political Rights

Morocco

The Parliament has the theoretical ability to effect change in the system of government. (references)

Paraguay

Citizens have the right and ability to change their government through democratic means. (references)

Malaysia

Other government measures hamper the opposition's ability to compete with the incumbent ruling coalition. (references)

Trade

Taiwan

This limits larger U.S. firm's ability to introduce their products into the market. (references)

Ukraine

Limitations also exist on a company's ability to write-off investments in its production facilities. (references)

Czech Rep

A U.S. firm's ability to provide or arrange financing is often key to building significant market share. (references)

Travel

New Zealand

Applicants must demonstrate that they have the background, ability, skills, and investment capital for their proposed business venture. (references)

Georgia

Restricted access of the Embassy to Abkhazia, South Ossetia and the Pankisi Gorge severely limits Embassy ability to assist U.S. citizens even in emergencies. (references)

Bolivia

The amount of effort given to promoting a particular product line is determined in part by the interest and support expressed by the supplier, as well as by the agent's ability and interest. (references)

Women

Cambodia

However, cultural traditions continued to limit the ability of women to reach senior positions in business and other areas. (references)

Portugal

Parliament also changed the Penal Code to grant any interested party the ability to file charges in domestic violence cases. (references)

Poland

Observers note that the broad scope of the office's mandate dilutes its ability to function as an effective advocate of women's issues. (references)

Worker Rights

Papua New Guinea

Workers' ability to remove themselves from hazardous working conditions varies by workplace. (references)

Panama

A 1995 labor code reform package significantly increased workers' ability to establish unions. (references)

Syria

Rules and regulations severely limit the ability of an employer to dismiss employees without cause. (references)

Lexicography

Devil's Dictionary

ACCOUNTABILITY, n. The mother of caution. "My accountability, bear in mind," Said the Grand Vizier: "Yes, yes," Said the Shah: "I do -- 'tis the only kind Of ability you possess." Joram Tate

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

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Spoken Usage: Ability

SpeakerPhrase(s)

Andrew Card

Well, I'm confident that Chairman Arafat has the ability to bring some level of reduction in violence in that area, and the charge is on him to meet that responsibility. We also know that the Israeli leadership has a responsibility as well.

Dennis Miller

The ability to be critical of our government is what makes this country great.

James Van Praagh

I do. I do. I believe that everybody has the ability to be more intuitive. There are some more intuitive than others, but everybody has that ability.

Rush Limbaugh

For us to think that we have the ability, just by virtue of living our lives in a way that enhances our lives, to destroy this planet is the height of folly.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Speeches: Ability

SpeakerTermPhrase(s)

Andrew Jackson

1829-1837Before concluding this paper I think it due to the various Executive Departments to bear testimony to their prosperous condition and to the ability and integrity with which they have been conducted.

Martin van Buren

1837-1841Those opinions I shall endeavor to carry out with my utmost ability.

Ulysses S. Grant

1869-1877I bring to it a conscious desire and determination to fill it to the best of my ability to the satisfaction of the people.

Herbert C. Hoover

1929-1933Peace can be contributed to by respect for our ability in defense.

Harry S. Truman

1945-1953The ability of labor and management to work together, and the wage and price policies which they develop, are social and economic issues of first importance.

Lyndon B. Johnson

1963-1969Eighth, we must strengthen the ability of free nations everywhere to develop their independence and raise their standard of living, and thereby frustrate those who prey on poverty and chaos.

Gerald Ford

1974-1977But if our foreign policy is to be successful, we cannot rigidly restrict in legislation the ability of the President to act.

Jimmy Carter

1977-1981That's the heart of America--and it's the source of our ability to inspire other people to defend their own rights abroad.

Ronald Reagan

1981-1989Nowhere do we so effectively demonstrate our technological leadership and ability to make life better on Earth.

Bill Clinton

1993-2001Let's give more of our workers the ability to learn and to earn for a lifetime.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Usage Frequency: Ability

"Ability" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 100.00% of the time. "Ability" is used about 9,125 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)
Parts of SpeechPercentUsage per
100 Million Words
Rank in English
Noun (singular)100%9,1251,044

Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

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Expressions: Ability

Expressions using "ability": ability tax ability test ability to act ability to enter into ability to pay ability to think in abstract terms ability to visualize things ability to work accommodation ability climbing ability creativ ability eidetic ability executive ability Kidney Concentrating Ability latent ability learning ability magical ability man of ability mental ability mixing ability native ability native ability for natural ability physical ability show ability specific combining ability taxpaying ability the best of one's ability to the best of one's ability. Additional references.

Hyphenated Usage

Beginning with "ability": ability-grouping, ability-orientated, ability-range, ability-to-pay, ability-wise.

Ending with "ability": low-ability, mixed-ability.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Frequency of Internet Keywords: Ability

The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com.
 
ExpressionFrequency
per Day

psychic ability

169

ability

95

knowledge skill and ability

65

ability write

41

ability office 2000

38

ability grouping

37

ability daoc realm

32

ability iq verbal

28

test your psychic ability

27

ability expo

23
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Modern Translations: Ability

Language Translations for "ability"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.

Afrikaan

  

kwalifikasie (qualification). (various references)

   

Albanian

  

aftësi (accomplishment, aptitude, bent, capability, capacity, disposition, facility, faculty, flair, gift, hand, knack, know how, neatness, power, proficiency, qualification, science, skill, talent, value). (various references)

   

Arabic 

  

‏كفاءة (adequacy, aptitude, capability, capacity, competence, efficiency, fitness, qualification, qualifications), ‏مقدرة (capability, energy, potency, power, strength), ‏قوة (agency, arm, authority, birr, capacity, clout, dint, energy, faculty, force, forcefulness, forcing, hardihood, intension, intensity, iron, leverage, might, operation, potency, power, severity, sinew, solidity, stamina, starch, stoutness, strength, vehemence, vigor, vigour, violence, virility, virtue), ‏قدرة (capability, capacity, faculty, fitness, leverage, might, potency, power, qualification, strength), ‏حول (about, alien, around, be cross eyed, bleach, capricious, commit, concerning, deed, deliver, deter, divert, encode, hand down, hand over, make, metamorphose, power, process, redress, refer, relocate, round, stop, switch, transfer, transmute, transpose, turn, whimsical, withdraw, work, year), ‏تمكن (can, competence, mastery), ‏طاقة (capacity, energy, input, pizzazz, power), ‏القدرة. (various references)

   

Bulgarian 

  

умствени способности (apprehension, grey matter, intellect), умение (accomplishment, address, art, artifice, cleverness, facility, faculty, know how, proficiency, quality, savoir faire, science, skill, sleight, workmanship), способност (aptness, bump, capability, capacity, competence, competency, efficiency, faculty, fitness, flair, notion, power, quality, sufficiency, turn), талант (accomplishment, capability, dowry, endowment, gift, talent), компетентност (cognizance, competence, competency, jurisdiction, province, purview), заложба, платежоспособност (solvency), интелигентност (cleverness, intelligence, smartness), дарба (appanage, aptitude, competence, competency, dowry, endowment, faculty, flair, genius, gift). (various references)

   

Chinese 

  

能力 (Abilities, Capabilities, Capability, Competence, Competency). (various references)

   

Czech

  

talent (capabilities, faculty, genius, gift, talent), schopnost (aptitude, capability, efficiency, faculty, hand, intellect, power, skill, talent, vocation), kapacita (authority, capacity, power, seating, volume). (various references)

   

Danish

  

egnethed (aptitude, equalification). (various references)

   

Dutch

  

vermogen (assets, be able, be able to, capacity, capital, demand, equalification, performances, possession, power, property), bekwaamheid (equalification), kundigheid, geschiktheid (aptitude, capability, equalification, fitness, suitability, suitability for use, wholesomeness). (various references)

   

Esperanto

  

taŭgeco (capability, fitness, suitability), solventeco, povo, kvalifiko (qualification), kompetenteco, kapablo, kapableco. (various references)

   

Faeroese

  

serkunnleiki, megi (force, strength, vigour), heimild. (various references)

   

Farsi 

  

لیاقت (Aptitude, Autarchy, Merit, Potency), قابلیت (Capability, Sufficiency), تواناءی (Authority, Energy, Influence, Might, Potency, Strength, Vim), صلاحیت (Capability, Capacity, Competence, Qualification), استطاعت , شایستگی (Adequacy, Aptitude, Aptness, Competence, Decency, Desert, Eligibility, Merit, Pertinence, Sufficiency). (various references)

   

Finnish

  

vointi (condition, health, state of health), taito (know-how, knowledge, proficiency, skill), taitavuus (dexterity, expertness, proficiency, skill), pätevyys (competence, qualifications), kyvykkyys, kyky (accomplishment, aptitude, capability, capacity, disposition, talent), kelvollisuus (competence, fitness, serviceability), etevyys (proficiency, skill). (various references)

   

French

  

capacité, aptitude. (various references)

   

Frisian

  

macht, kundigens, fermogen, betûftens (accomplishment, aptitude, disposition, talent). (various references)

   

German

  

Fähigkeit (aptitude, capability, competence, efficiency, faculty, feature, literacy, property, skill, skillfulness), Befähigung (aptitude, capability, competency, fitness for employment, qualification, suitability for employment), Vermögen (assets, be able, be able to, be capable, capacity, capital, faculty, fonds, fortune, mean, patrimony, pile, power, property, resource, resources, wealth), Tüchtigkeit (competence, efficiency, proficiency, prowess), Können (be able, be able to, be allowed, be capable, be permitted, can, could, know, known, mastery, may, proficiency, prowess, savvy, skill, to be able, to be able to), Faehigkeit (aptitude, capableness, equalification). (various references)

   

Greek 

  

ικανότητα (aptitude, aptitude for, caliber, calibre, capability, capableness, capacity, competence, efficiency, faculty, fitness, knack, proficiency, prowess, rating, skill, sufficiency). (various references)

   

Hawaiian

  

aftësi (accomplishment, aptitude, disposition, talent). (various references)

   

Hebrew 

  

יכולת (capability, capacity, competence, faculty, possibility, power), חריצות (assiduity, diligence, industry, knack, skill), כושר (aptitude, capability, capacity, faculty, power, propriety, worthiness), כשרון (aptitude, capability, competence, endowment, facility, flair, genius, gift, knack, talent), סמכות (authority, authorization, competence, power, sanction, warrant). (various references)

   

Hungarian

  

tehetség (accomplishment, aptitude, art, capacity, disposition, dower, endowment, facility, faculty, genious, gift, talent, vein, vocation), képesség (absorptivity, accomplishment, attainments, caliber, calibre, capability, capacity, dower, facility, faculty, genious, gift, reach, talent). (various references)

   

Indonesian

  

kesanggupan (capacity, potential), kepandaian (acquirement, cleverness), kemampuan (capability, competence, faculty), kebolehan. (various references)

   

Italian

  

capacit (capability, capacitance, capacity, competence, competency, possibility, power, storage, volume), abilit (accomplishment, adeptness, adroitness, artifice, capability, capacity, cleverness, craft, cunning, expertise, expertness, ingenuity, knack, know how, mastership, mastery, proficiency, prowess, skilfulness, skill, skillfulness, sleight). (various references)

   

Japanese Kanji 

  

手腕 , 敏腕 . (various references)

   

Japanese Katakana 

  

さいわ" (skill), はたらき (achievement, action, activity, conjugation, function, inflection, labor, motion, movement, operation, talent, work, workings), ア"リティー , りきりょう (capacity, physical strength, skill, tact, talent), かいしょう (cancellation, circular, circulating letter, easy victory, liquidation, Navy Minister, negotiation, renaming, resourcefulness, retitling, sweeping victory, talks, Vice-Admiral), せいのう (efficiency, hard-working farmer or agriculturalist, seminal vesicle), のうりょく (faculty), ちから (agency, attainment, authority, capability, efficacy, emphasis, endeavors, energy, exertions, faculty, force, good offices, help, influence, means, might, power, resources, strength, stress, support, vigor), さい (again, alas!, aptitude, circumstances, companion, cut, debt, difference, disparity, genius, gift, hold, how!, judge, loan, my son, on the occasion of, planting, re-, repeated, rhinoceros, son, talent, the extreme, the most, what!, -years-old), ぎのう (capacity, technical skill), さいりょく (talent), さいか" (artist's brush, reprint, republication), さいのう (talent), び"わ", しゅわ", ざいき (talent), ぎりょう (capacity, closing a debate, competency, finishing discussion, skill, talent), うでまえ (facility, skill). (various references)

   

Korean 

  

(Abilities, Capabilities, Capability, Faculties, Faculty). (various references)

   

Manx

  

schlei (adroitness, art, attainment, flair, forte, know-how, skill, talent, virtuosity), jargaght (capability, possibility), fort (validity), ablid (adroitness, capacity, faculty). (various references)

   

Norwegian

  

dyktighet (capability). (various references)

   

Papiamen

  

abilidat (accomplishment, expertness, skilfulness, skill, skillfulness), poder (power), kualifikashon (qualification). (various references)

   

Pig Latin

  

abilityay.(various references)

   

Portuguese

  

habilidade (accomplishments, acquaintance, acquirement, address, adroitness, art, asset, cleverness, come off, competence, competency, craft, craftsmanship, cunning, dexterity, diplomacy, dodge, dodgery, facility, genius, gimmick, hand, ingenuous, knack, know how, neatness, put off, savvy, science, shift, skill, tact, trick), faculdade (capacitance, capacity, college, energy, faculty, power, school), abilidade. (various references)

   

Portuguese Brazilian

  

habilidade. (various references)

   

Romanian

  

aptitudine (accomplishment, aptitude, aptness, capability, capaciousness, capacity, fitness), abilitate (address, adroitness, aptness, art, cleverness, competence, craft, cunning, deftness, finesse, genius, knack, resourcefulness, skill, talent), talent (accomplishments, aptitude, capability, dower, dowry, endowment, facility, faculty, felicity, genius, gift, ingenuity, knack, part, skill, talent, turn, twist), solvabilitate (responsibility, solvency), putinţã (possibility), pricepere (capability, cleverness, competence, fitness, gumption, ingenuousness, knack, know how, management, qualification, savvy, sconce, skill, understanding), posibilitãţi (means, scope), iscusinţã (address, art, astuteness, cleverness, fitness, ingenuity, ingenuousness, knack, management, skill, talent), destoinicie (competence), dãruire (abnegation, dealing out, dedication, devotedness, donation, offering, self denial), competenţã (authority, capacity, cognizance, competence, efficiency, expertness, fitness, jurisdiction, province, purview, reference, scope), capacitate (capability, capaciousness, capacity, competence, content, efficiency, fitness, gift, mastermind, measure, output, power, talent, tankage, volume), îndemânare (address, adroitness, art, craft, deftness, dexterity, dexterousness, hand, handiness, skill, sleight, sportsmanship, workmanship). (various references)

   

Russian 

  

способность (aptitude, aptness, capability, capacity, competence, facility, faculty, flair, gift, power, skills and talents). (various references)

   

Scottish

  

cumhachd (authority, power). (various references)

   

Serbo-Croatian

  

veština (art, attainment, cleverness, craft, cunning, excellence, facility, knack, know how, masterliness, skill, subtlety, technique, wizardry, workmanship), sposobnost (acumen, aptitude, aptness, capability, capacity, competence, competency, facility, faculty, fitness, talent, touch), darovitost. (various references)

   

Spanish

  

habilidad (address, adroitness, aptitude, aptness, artifice, capacity, cleverness, competence, competency, deftness, expertise, facility, habitably, know how, neatness, possibility, proficiency, prowess, savoir faire, skilfulness, skill, skillfulness, sleight), capacidad (accommodation, accomplishment, aptitude, aptness, caliber, calibre, calling, capability, capacitance, capacity, competence, competency, disposition, electric utility capacity, equalification, fitness, know how, liking, power, proficiency, size, suitability, talent), virtud (chastity, courage, energy, force, merit, morality, purity, righteousness, strength, vice, vigour, virtue), poder (ascendancy, authority, be able, be able to, can, capability, capacity, dominion, ennoblement, know how, may, might, mightiness, power, power of attorney, proxy, puissance, strength, sway, to be able, warrant), disposición (accomplishment, aptitude, arrangement, capability, decree, deposition, disposal, disposition, fitness, gift, lay out, layout, order, ordinance, provision, ready, setup, suitability, talent), aptitud (applicability, aptitude, aptness, caliber, calibre, competence, competency, compliance, eligibility, equalification, equipment, faculty, fitness, flair, qualification, turn). (various references)

   

Swedish

  

möjlighet (capability, chanse, eventuality, feasibility, opportunity, possibility, probability, way), förmåga (capability, capacity, faculty, man of ability, power, talent). (various references)

   

Turkish

  

yeterlik (adequacy, capacity, competence, competency, efficiency, proficiency, qualification, sufficiency), yetenek (accomplishment, accomplishments, aptitude, aptness, artistry, bent, caliber, calibre, capability, capacity, competence, competency, disposition, dower, dowry, efficiency, facility, faculty, fitness, flair, gift, hand, instinct, parts, power, prerogative, quality, skill, talent, vocation), iktidar (capability, capacity, potency, potential, power), güç (arduous, arm, baffling, capability, capacity, clout, clutch, clutches, command, control, difficult, dominance, energy, force, forcefulness, hard, intensity, iron, might, pep, pith, potency, potential, power, punch, rod, sinew, spirit, stamina, steam, sting, strength, stuffing, sword, tone, tricksy, vigor, vigour, vim, vis, vitality, zing), beceri (accomplishment, accomplishments, address, adroitness, art, artfulness, artifice, attainments, craft, cunning, deftness, dexterity, faculty, feat, finesse, ingeniousness, ingenuity, knack, know how, resource, savoir faire, science, skill, sleight, wizardry). (various references)

   

Turkmen 

  

ukyplylyk, ukyp (capability, talent), gurp, gurbat, baюarnyklyk. (various references)

   

Ukranian 

  

спритність (activity, adroitness, agility, alertness, artfulness, cleverness, deftness, efficiency, knack, nimbleness, policy, readiness, sleight), талант (dowry, skill, talent), обдарованість (aptitude, aptness, capability, cleverness, genius), здібність (aptitude, aptness, brightness, bump, capability, cleverness, faculty, felicity, talent, turn, verve), здібності, здатність (capability, facility, flair, skill, sufficiency), правоздатність (capacity), платоспроможність (responsibility). (various references)

   

Vietnamese 

  

t i cán, năng lực (bump, calibre, competence, depth, quality). (various references)

   

Welsh

  

abledd (abundance, plenty), medr (skill), gallu (be able, be able to, power). (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

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Ancestral Language Translations: Ability

LanguagePeriodTranslations
Latin500 BCE-Modern

aequalem, aequales, aequali, aequalis, capacitas, facultas, facultatem, facultates, facultatibus, habilitas, ops, potestas, potestate, potestatem, potestatemque, potestates, potestati, potestatibus, potestatis. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Bible Trace: Ability

LanguageDateSourceActs Chapter 11, Verse 29
Greek (transliterated)250 BCSeptuagintTwn de maqhtwn kaqwV huporeito tiV wrisan ekastoV autwn eiV diakonian pemyai toiV katoikousin en th ioudaia adelfoiV
Latin405VulgateDiscipuli autem prout quis habebat proposuerunt singuli eorum in ministerium mittere habitantibus in Iudaea fratribus
Middle English1395WyclifAnd alle the disciplis purposiden, after that ech hadde, for to sende in to mynysterie to britheren that dwelliden in Judee.
Renaissance English1526TyndaleThen the disciples every man accordinge to his abilite purposed to sende socoure vnto the brethren which dwelt in Iewry.
Jacobean English1611King JamesThen the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
Victorian English1833WebsterThen the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judea.
Basic English1964OgdenAnd the disciples, everyone as he was able, made a decision to send help to the brothers living in Judaea:

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Matched Bible Translations: Ability

LanguageActs Chapter 11, Verse 29
AlbanianAtëherë dishepujt, secili sipas mundësive të tij, vendosën t'u çojnë një ndihmë vëllezërve që banonin në Jude.
BulgarianОколо това време цар Ирод простря ръцете си да притесни някои от църквата.
CebuanoUg ang mga tinun-an, ang matag-usa kanila sumala sa iyang maarangan, naninguha sa pagpadalag hinabang ngadto sa mga kaigsoonan nga nanag-puyo sa Judea.
Chinese於 是 門 ' 定 意 、 照 各 人 的 力 量 捐 錢 、 送 去 供 給 住 在 猶 太 的 弟 兄 。
CroatianStoga æe svatko od uèenika, odluèiše, koliko smogne poslati da se posluži braæi u Judeji.
DanishMen Disciplene besluttede at sende, hver efter sin Evne, noget til Hjælp for Brødrene, som boede i Judæa;
DutchEn naardat een iegelijk der discipelen vermocht, besloot elk van hen iets te zenden ten dienste der broederen, die in Judea woonden.
FinnishNiin opetuslapset päättivät kukin varojensa mukaan lähettää avustusta Juudeassa asuville veljille.
FrenchLes disciples résolurent d`envoyer, chacun selon ses moyens, un secours aux frères qui habitaient la Judée.
GermanAber unter den Jüngern beschloß ein jeglicher, nach dem er vermochte, zu senden eine Handreichung den Brüdern, die in Judäa wohnten;
Haitian CreoleDisip yo deside pou chak moun bay sa yo kapab pou yo voye ede frè yo ki te nan peyi Jide.
HungarianA tanítványok pedig elhatározták, hogy a szerint, a mint kinek-kinek közöttük módjában áll, küldenek valamit segítségül a Júdeában lakozó atyafiaknak:
Indonesian-Bahasa Sehari-hariMaka semua pengikut Yesus itu sepakat untuk mengirim sumbangan kepada saudara-saudara yang tinggal di Yudea; masing-masing mengirim menurut kemampuannya.
Indonesian-Terjemahan LamaLalu murid-murid itu pun bersetujulah menurut kadar masing-masing mengirim pertolongan kepada sekalian saudara yang diam di tanah Yudea.
ItalianAllora i discepoli si accordarono, ciascuno secondo quello che possedeva, di mandare un soccorso ai fratelli abitanti nella Giudea;
Korean 자 " 이 각 각 그 힘 대 로 대 에 사 " 형 " 에 게 부 조 를 보 내 기 로 작 하
LatvianBet visi mâcekïi apòçmâs, kâ kurð varçdams, sûtît pabalstu brâïiem, kas dzîvoja Jûdejâ.
MaoriNa ka whakatakoto tikanga nga akonga i runga i te mea e taea e tena, e tena, kia tukua atu he awhina mo nga tuakana e noho ana i Huria:
Modern GreekΟθεν οι μαθηται απεφασισαν, εκαστος αυτων κατα την εαυτου καταστασιν, να πεμψωσι βοηθειαν προς τους αδελφους τους κατοικουντας εν τη Ιουδαια·
NorwegianDisiplene vedtok da, alt efter som enhver av dem hadde råd til, å sende noget til hjelp for de brødre som bodde i Judea.
PortugueseE os discípulos resolveram mandar, cada um conforme suas posses, socorro aos irmãos que habitavam na Judéia;   
RumanianUcenicii au hotqrkt sq trimeatq, fiecare dupq puterea lui, un ajutor frayilor, cari locuiau kn Iudea,
RussianфПЗ"Б ХЮЕОЙЛЙ ПМПЦЙМЙ, ЛБЦ"ЩК П "ПУФБФЛХ УЧПЕНХ, ПУМБФШ ПУП'ЙЕ 'ТБФШСН, ЦЙЧХЭЙН Ч йХ"ЕЕ,
Shuar
SpanishEntonces los discípulos, cada uno conforme a lo que tenía, determinaron enviar una ofrenda para ministrar a los hermanos que habitaban en Judea.
SwahiliWale wanafunzi waliamua kila mmoja kwa kadiri ya uwezo wake apeleke chochote ili kuwasaidia wale ndugu waliokuwa wanaishi Yudea.
SwedishDå bestämde lärjungarna att de, var och en efter sin förmåga, skulle sända något till understöd åt de bröder som bodde i Judeen.
Thaiพวกสาวกทุกคนจึงตกลงใจกันว่า จะถวายตามกำลังฝากไปช่วยบรรเทาทุกข์พวกพี่น้องที่อยู่ในแคว้นยูเ"ีย
UkrainianТоді учні, усякий із сво"ї спроможности, постановили послати допомогу братам, що в Юдеї жили.
UmaMpo'epe toe, mohawa' -ramo topetuku' Yesus hi Antiokhia doko' mpotulungi ompi' hampepangalaa' -ra to hi tana' Yudea. Jadi', butu-butu dua-ra mpowai' doi ntuku' pakulea' -ra,

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Derivations & Misspellings: Ability

Derivations

Words ending with "ability": absorbability, acceptability, accountability, actability, adaptability, addressability, adjustability, admirability, adoptability, adorability, advisability, affability, affectability, affordability, agglutinability, agreeability, alienability, alterability, amenability, amiability, amicability, analyzability, appealability, applicability, approachability, arability, assignability, assimilability, assumability, attainability, availability, bankability, bearability, believability, biddability, bioavailability, biodegradability, breathability, brushability, capability, castability, changeability, cleanability, coagulability, codifiability, coilability, commensurability, communicability, companionability, comparability, compensability, computability, conceivability, confirmability, controllability, countability, creditability, crossability, culpability, cultivability, curability, cutability, damageability, decidability, decomposability, delectability, deliverability, demonstrability, deniability, denumerability, dependability, desirability, detachability, detectability, deterrability, detonability, differentiability, dilatability, disability, discriminability, dispensability, disposability, disreputability, disrespectability, dissociability, distinguishability, drapability, drapeability, drillability, drinkability, drivability, driveability, durability, dyeability, educability, electability, employability, enforceability, enumerability, equability, equitability, erasability, exceptionability, exchangeability, excitability, excludability, expandability, expendability, exportability, extendability, extractability, extrudability, falsifiability, fashionability, fatigability, filterability, fishability, fissionability, flammability, foreseeability, forgeability, formability, formidability, friability, generalizability, germinability, habitability, hatchability, heritability, honorability, hypercoagulability, hyperexcitability, hyperirritability, hypermutability, hypnotizability, ignitability, illimitability, immovability, immutability, impalpability, impassability, impeccability, impenetrability, imperishability, impermeability, imperturbability, implacability, imponderability, impracticability, impregnability, impressionability, improbability, improvability, imputability, inability, inadvisability, inalienability, inalterability, inapplicability, incalculability, incapability, incommensurability, incommunicability, incomparability, inconceivability, incontestability, indefatigability, indefinability, indispensability, indistinguishability, indomitability, indubitability, ineducability, ineffability, ineffaceability, ineluctability, ineradicability, inevitability, inexorability, inexplicability, inextricability, inflammability, inheritability, insatiability, inscrutability, inseparability, insociability, instability, insurability, integrability, interavailability, interchangeability, interoperability, interpretability, intersubstitutability, intolerability, intractability, invariability, inviability, inviolability, invulnerability, irreconcilability, irreformability, irrefragability, irrefutability, irremovability, irrepealability, irreplaceability, irreproachability, irretrievability, irrevocability, irritability, justiciability, justifiability, knowledgeability, lability, leachability, liability, likability, livability, liveability, localizability, lovability, machinability, machineability, mailability, maintainability, malleability, manageability, maneuverability, manipulability, marketability, marriageability, measurability, meltability, memorability, mensurability, merchantability, metastability, modifiability, modulability, movability, mutability, navigability, negotiability, nonavailability, noncomparability, nonenforceability, nonflammability, notability, observability, obtainability, openability, operability, opposability, overstability, packability, palatability, palpability, patentability, penetrability, perdurability, performability, perishability, permeability, placability, playability, pleasurability, pliability, polarizability, portability, potability, practicability, predictability, preferability, pregnability, presentability, preservability, preventability, printability, probability, processability, profitability, programmability, promotability, pronounceability, punishability, quotability, readability, reasonability, recallability, recognizability, reconcilability, recoverability, rectifiability, reformability, refundability, reliability, remediability, rememberability, removability, renewability, rentability, repairability, repeatability, replicability, reputability, resectability, respectability, retrievability, reusability, roadability, salability, salvageability, semipermeability, separability, serviceability, severability, sewability, shareability, sinterability, sociability, solderability, solvability, sorbability, spreadability, squeezability, stability, stainability, stretchability, suability, substitutability, suitability, summability, supportability, survivability, sustainability, tenability, testability, thermolability, thermostability, tolerability, traceability, tractability, trafficability, trainability, transferability, translatability, transplantability, transportability, treatability, trustability, tunability, unacceptability, unaccountability, unalterability, unanswerability, unapproachability, unassailability, unavailability, unchangeability, unconscionability, uncontrollability, undecidability, understandability, undesirability, unemployability, unflappability, unknowability, unpalatability, unpredictability, unreliability, unsociability, unsuitability, untenability, unthinkability, untouchability, untranslatability, unworkability, upgradability, upgradeability, usability, variability, venerability, verifiability, viability, violability, vulnerability, washability, wearability, weatherability, wettability, workability. (additional references)


Misspellings

"Ability" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: Abblitt, abiity, abilite, abilitiy, abilty, absinity, abuelita, avility, axiality, basicity, biliti, bility, Kabelitz, sability. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

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Rhyming with "Ability"

# of Phoneme MatchesPronunciationWord(s) rhyming with "ability" (pronounced ubi"lutē)
7u b i" l u t ēacceptability, accessibility, adaptability, admissibility, advisability, affordability, amiability, applicability, availability, believability, capability, comparability, compatibility, comprehensibility, convertibility, credibility, culpability, debility, deductibility, deniability, dependability, desirability, disability, durability, electability, eligibility, enforceability, fallibility, feasibility, flammability, flexibility, gullibility, impossibility, inability, inaccessibility, incompatibility, indestructibility, inevitability, infallibility, inflexibility, instability, invincibility, invisibility, invulnerability, irresponsibility, irritability, legibility, liability, malleability, maneuverability, marketability, miscibility, palatability, permeability, plausibility, portability, possibility, predictability, probability, profitability, readability, reliability, respectability, responsibility, sensibility, stability, suitability, survivability, susceptibility, sustainability, transferability, unavailability, unpredictability, unreliability, variability, viability, visibility, vulnerability.
6-b i" l u t ēimmobility, mobility, nobility.
5-i" l u t ēagility, civility, docility, ductility, facility, fertility, fragility, futility, gentility, hostility, humility, incivility, infertility, motility, nonutility, senility, sterility, tranquility, utility, versatility, virility, volatility.
4-l u t ēabnormality, accountability, actuality, banality, bestiality, bisexuality, brutality, causality, centrality, collegiality, commonality, conditionality, confidentiality, congeniality, constitutionality, credulity, criminality, criticality, cyclicality, dimensionality, duality, equality, eventuality, extraterritoriality, fatality, fidelity, finality, formality, frivolity, frugality, functionality, generality, geniality, heterosexuality, homosexuality, hospitality, illegality, immorality, immortality, impartiality, impersonality, incredulity, individuality, inequality, infidelity, informality, instrumentality, irrationality, legality, lethality, liberality, locality, materiality, mentality, modality, morality, mortality, municipality, musicality, mutuality, nationality, neutrality, normality, originality, partiality, personality, plurality, polity, practicality, principality, proportionality, punctuality, quality, rationality, reality, seasonality, sensuality, sentimentality, sexuality, speciality, spirituality, technicality, theatricality, tonality, totality, triviality, universality, unreality, venality, vitality.
3-u t ēabsurdity, acidity, activity, acuity, adversity, affinity, aggressivity, alacrity, alkalinity, ambiguity, amenity, amity, analyticity, animosity, annuity, anonymity, antiquity, anxiety, atrocity, audacity, austerity, authenticity, authority, barbarity, biodiversity, brevity, calamity, capacity, captivity, cavity, celebrity, charity, chastity, clarity, commodity, community, complexity, complicity, conductivity, conformity, congruity, connectivity, continuity, creativity, crotchety, curiosity, deformity, deity, density, depravity, deputy, dexterity, dignity, discontinuity, disparity, dissimilarity, disunity, diversity, divinity, domesticity, duplicity, eccentricity, elasticity, electricity, enmity, enormity, entity, equanimity, equity, eternity, ethnicity, exclusivity, expressivity, extremity, falsity, familiarity, Felicity, femininity, ferocity, festivity, fluidity, fraternity, generosity, gratuity, gravity, heredity, heterogeneity, hilarity, homogeneity, humanity, humidity, hyperactivity, hypersensitivity, identity, illiquidity, immaturity, immunity, impropriety, impunity, impurity, inactivity, incapacity, incongruity, indemnity, indignity, inequity, inferiority, infinity, infirmity, ingenuity, inhumanity, insanity, insecurity, insensitivity, insularity, integrity, intensity, irregularity, laity, laxity, levity, liquidity, lividity, longevity, majority, masculinity, maternity, maturity, mediocrity, mendacity, minority, modernity, monstrosity, morbidity, multiplicity, nativity, necessity, negativity, Nonconformity, nonentity, notoriety, nudity, obesity, objectivity, obscenity, obscurity, oddity, opacity, opportunity, overcapacity, oversensitivity, parity, particularity, passivity, paternity, paucity, peculiarity, perpetuity, perplexity, perversity, piety, polarity, pomposity, popularity, posterity, priority, probity, proclivity, productivity, profanity, progressivity, promiscuity, propensity, propriety, prosperity, proximity, publicity, purity, quantity, radioactivity, rapidity, rarity, reactivity, receptivity, reciprocity, reflexivity, regularity, relativity, religiosity, retroactivity, rickety, rigidity, salinity, sanctity, sanity, scarcity, security, selectivity, seniority, sensitivity, serendipity, serenity, severity, similarity, simplicity, sincerity, sobriety, society, solemnity, solidarity, solidity, sorority, specificity, spontaneity, stupidity, subjectivity, superconductivity, superfluidity, superiority, supermajority, surety, temerity, tenacity, timidity, toxicity, Trinity, turbidity, ubiquity, unanimity, unfamiliarity, uniformity, unity, university, unpopularity, uppity, validity, vanity, variety, varsity, velocity, velvety, veracity, Verity, vicinity, virginity, virtuosity, viscosity, voracity, vulgarity.

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

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Anagrams: Ability

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

Words within the letters "a-b-i-i-l-t-y"

-1 letter: tibial.

-2 letters: alibi, biali, bialy, laity, litai, tibia.

-3 letters: ably, alit, bail, bait, blat, ilia, lati, tail, tali.

-4 letters: aby, ail, ait, alb, alt, bal, bat, bay, bit, lab, lat, lay, lib, lit, tab, til.

-5 letters: ab, ai, al, at, ay, ba, bi, by, it, la, li, ta, ti, ya.

 Words containing the letters "a-b-i-i-l-t-y"
 

+1 letter: lability, pitiably.

 

+2 letters: arability, inability, irritably, liability, stability, suability, usability, viability.

 

+3 letters: actability, affability, amiability, audibility, bestiality, bimodality, bipedality, bipolarity, capability, curability, cutability, disability, durability, dyeability, equability, friability, impartibly, inevitably, inimitably, insatiably, intangibly, liberality, likability, livability, lovability, movability, mutability, notability, pliability, potability, salability, sewability, sibilantly, tenability, tunability.

 

+4 letters: abiotically, adorability, ambitiously, amenability, amicability, arbitrarily, bankability, bearability, bibliolatry, biddability, bipartitely, bipinnately, bisexuality, brilliantly, castability, certifiably, coilability, culpability, deniability, drapability, drivability, educability, erasability, fallibility, feasibility, fishability, formability, illimitably, immitigably, indomitably, indubitably, inequitably, inestimably, insalubrity, instability, inviability, justifiably, libationary, liveability, mailability, meltability, openability, operability, packability, palpability, partibility, placability, playability, portability, probability, quotability, readability, reliability, rentability, reusability, roadability, sociability, solvability, sorbability, suitability, summability, syllabicity, tangibility, testability, trisyllabic, variability, violability, washability, wearability, wettability, workability.

 

+5 letters: abolitionary, adaptability, admirability, adoptability, advisability, agreeability, alienability, alterability, assumability, automobility, availability, beatifically, binocularity, brushability, cleanability, connubiality, countability, crossability, decidability, desirability, detonability, dilatability, drapeability, drillability, drinkability, driveability, dyeabilities, electability, equitability, excitability, fatigability, flammability, forgeability, frangibility, habitability, hatchability, heritability, honorability, identifiably, ignitability, illiberality, immovability, immutability, imputability, inaudibility, incapability, incompatibly, indisputably, ineffability, inextricably, inhospitably, insurability, interlibrary, interminably, irascibility, irritability, labyrinthian, labyrinthine, leachability, malleability, memorability, modulability, navigability, obligatorily, opposability, palatability, permeability, plausibility, plebiscitary, pregnability, printability, removability, renewability, reputability, separability, severability, shareability, stainability, tolerability, traceability, tractability, trainability, treatability, trustability, untenability, venerability.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Alternative Orthography: Ability


Hexadecimal (or equivalents, 770AD-1900s) (references)

41 62 69 6C 69 74 79

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519; backwards) (references)

American Sign Language (origins from 1620-1817 in Italy and, especially, France) (references)

=

Semaphore (1791, in France) (references)

Braille (1829, in France) (references)

Morse Code (1836) (references)

.-    -...    ..    .-..    ..    -    -.--.

Dancing Men (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1903) (references)

Binary Code (1918-1938, probably earlier) (references)

01000001 01100010 01101001 01101100 01101001 01110100 01111001

HTML Code (1990) (references)

&#65 &#98 &#105 &#108 &#105 &#116 &#121

ISO 10646 (1991-1993) (references)

0041 0062 0069 006C 0069 0074 0079

British Sign Language (Fingerspelling, BSL; 1992, British Deaf Association Dictionary of British Sign Language) (references)

Encryption (beginner's substitution cypher): (references)

35687578758691

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INDEX

1. Definition
2. Synonyms
3. Crosswords
4. Usage: Modern
5. Usage: Commercial
6. Images: Photo Album
7. Quotations: Familiar
8. Quotations: Historic
9. Quotations: Fiction
10. Quotations: Non-fiction
11. Quotations: Spoken
12. Quotations: Speeches
13. Usage Frequency
14. Expressions
15. Expressions: Internet
16. Translations: Modern
17. Translations: Ancient
18. Bible Trace
19. Derivations
20. Rhymes
21. Anagrams
22. Orthography
23. Bibliography


  

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