abiding place (a bid in gpl as)

[ OF. habileter, habiliter ), renone abides; a permanent dwelling-place; hence, der able, A very charming little abiding - place . H. James , Jr., Trans. Sketches, p. 41. Nicholas Ferrar . Many of these plants places at the South. found suitable abiding- Science, III. 359. Abies (ab'i-ez), n. [L. abies ( abiet- ), the silver fir; origin unknown.] A genus of trees, the firs, of the suborder Abietineæ , natural order Conifer a, some of which are valuable for their timber. It differs from Pinus in its solitary leaves and in the thin scales of its cones, which ripen the first year. From the allied genera Picea , Tsuga , etc., with which it has sometimes been united, it is distinguished by its closely se ile leaves, by the bracts of the female aments being much larger than the scales, and by having erect cones with deciduous scales. It includes 16 or 18 species, ability (a-bil'i-ti), n. [ abilite (four syllables), habilite (ME. also ablete , ablete ), habilita (t-)s, ML. abilita ( t- )s, aptne , habilis , apt, able: see able1 .] 1. The state or condition of being able; power or capacity to do or act in any relation; competence in any occupation or field of action, from the po e ion of capacity, skill, means, or other qualification. They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work. Ezra ii. 69. Alas! what poor Ability's in me to do him good? Shak., M. for M., i. 5. ability To the close of the Republic, the law was the sole field for all ability except the special talent of a capacity for generalship. Maine , Village Communities, p. 380. We must regard the colloidal compounds of which or ganisms are built as having, by their physical nature, the ability to separate colloids from crystalloids. H. Spencer, Prin. of Biol., § 7. 2. pl. In a concrete sense, talents; mental gifts or endowments. Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study. Bacon, Studies, E ay 50. He had good abilities , a genial temper, and no vices. Emerson, Soc. and Sol. 3. The condition of being able to pay or to meet pecuniary obligations; po e ion of means: called distinctively financial or pecu niary ability. Out of my lean and low ability I'll lend you something. Shak ., T. N., iii. 4. A draft upon my neighbour was to me the same as money; for i was sufficiently convinced of his ability . Goldsmith, Vicar, xiv. 4. That which is within one's power to do; best endeavor. Be thou a ur'd, good Ca io, I will do All my abilities in thy behalf. Shak ., Oth., iii. 3. 12