[syn: able, capable]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Capable \Ca"pa*ble\, a. [F. capable, LL. capabilis capacious,
capable, fr. L. caper to take, contain. See Heave.]
1. Possessing ability, qualification, or susceptibility;
having capacity; of sufficient size or strength; as, a
room capable of holding a large number; a castle capable
of resisting a long assault.
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Concious of joy and capable of pain. --Prior.
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2. Possessing adequate power; qualified; able; fully
competent; as, a capable instructor; a capable judge; a
mind capable of nice investigations.
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More capable to discourse of battles than to give
them. --Motley.
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3. Possessing legal power or capacity; as, a man capable of
making a contract, or a will.
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4. Capacious; large; comprehensive. [Obs.] --Shak.
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Note: Capable is usually followed by of, sometimes by an
infinitive.
Syn: Able; competent; qualified; fitted; efficient;
effective; skillful.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
capable
adj 1: (usually followed by `of') having capacity or ability;
"capable of winning"; "capable of hard work"; "capable of
walking on two feet" [ant: incapable]
2: possibly accepting or permitting; "a passage capable of
misinterpretation"; "open to interpretation"; "an issue open
to question"; "the time is fixed by the director and players
and therefore subject to much variation" [syn: capable,
open, subject]
3: (followed by `of') having the temperament or inclination for;
"no one believed her capable of murder" [ant: incapable]
4: having the requisite qualities for; "equal to the task"; "the
work isn't up to the standard I require" [syn: adequate
to(p), capable, equal to(p), up to(p)]
5: have the skills and qualifications to do things well; "able
teachers"; "a capable administrator"; "children as young as
14 can be extremely capable and dependable" [syn: able,
capable]