Part 29

<p><b>2.</b> <def>In a state of glowing excitement or ardent desire.</def>

<blockquote>The young Cambridge democrats were all <b>ablaze</b> to assist Torrijos. <i>Carlyle.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Able</h1> <Xpage=5>

<hw>A"ble</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>Comp.</tt> <er>Abler</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>superl.</tt> <er>Ablest</er> <tt>(#)</tt>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OF. <ets>habile</ets>, L. <ets>habilis</ets> that may be easily held or managed, apt, skillful, fr. <ets>habere</ets> to have, hold. Cf. <er>Habile</er> and see <er>Habit</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Fit; adapted; suitable.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>A many man, to ben an abbot <b>able</b>. <i>Chaucer.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>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>as, an <ex>able</ex> workman, soldier, seaman, a man <ex>able</ex> to work; a mind <ex>able</ex> to reason; a person <ex>able</ex> to be generous; <ex>able</ex> to endure pain; <ex>able</ex> to play on a piano.</as></def>

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

<blockquote>No man wrote <b>abler</b> state papers. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>Legally qualified; possessed of legal competence; <as>as, <ex>able</ex> to inherit or devise property</as>.</def>

<note><col>Able for</col>, is Scotticism. <blockquote>"Hardly <b>able for</b> such a march." <i>Robertson.</i></note>

<syn>Syn. -- Competent; qualified; fitted; efficient; effective; capable; skillful; clever; vigorous; powerful.</syn>

<h1>Able</h1> <Xpage=5>

<hw>A"ble</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <ety>[See <er>Able</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety> <mark>[Obs.]</mark> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To make able; to enable; to strengthen.</def>

<i>Chaucer.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To vouch for.</def> "I 'll <i>able</i> them."

<i>Shak.</i>

<h1>able</h1> <Xpage=5>

<hw>*a*ble</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>. <ety>[F. -<ets>able</ets>, L. -<ets>abilis</ets>.]</ety> <def>An adjective suffix now usually in a passive sense; able to be; fit to be; expressing capacity or worthiness in a passive sense; <as>as, mov<ex>able</ex>, able to be moved; amend<ex>able</ex>, able to be amended; blam<ex>able</ex>, fit to be blamed; sal<ex>able</ex>.</as></def>

<note>The form <wordforms><wf>ible<wf></wordforms> is used in the same sense.</note>

<note>&hand; It is difficult to say when we are not to use -<i>able</i> instead of -<i>ible</i>. "Yet a rule may be laid down as to when we are to use it. To all verbs, then, from the Anglo-Saxon, to all based on the uncorrupted infinitival stems of Latin verbs of the first conjugation, and to all substantives, whencesoever sprung, we annex -<i>able</i> only."</note>

<i>Fitzed. Hall.</i>

<h1>Able-bodied</h1> <Xpage=5>

<hw>A`ble-bod"ied</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Having a sound, strong body; physically competent; robust.</def> "<i>Able</i>-<i>bodied</i> vagrant." <i>Froude</i>. -- <wordforms><wf>A`ble-bod"ied*ness</wf>, <tt>n.</tt>.</wordforms>

<h1>Ablegate</h1> <Xpage=5>

<hw>Ab"le*gate</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>ablegatus</ets>, p. p. of <ets>ablegare</ets>; <ets>ab + legare</ets> to send with a commission. See <er>Legate</er>.]</ety> <def>To send abroad.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Bailey.</i>

<h1>Ablegate</h1> <Xpage=5>

<hw>Ab"le*gate</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(R. C. Ch.)</fld> <def>A representative of the pope charged with important commissions in foreign countries, one of his duties being to bring to a newly named cardinal his insignia of office.</def>