ability

[Fr. habilité; Ital. abilità; Sp. habilidad; Lat. habilitas, from habeo = have or hold.] [ABLE.] 1. Power po e ed by any one in virtue of his physical, mental, or moral nature. "The ability to spread the ble ings wide Of true philanthropy.' Words worth: Excursion, iv. 2. Specially of intellect. "The public men of England, with much of a peculiar kind of ability ."-Macaulay: Hist. of Eng., ch. xxii. Similarly, abilities in the plural is often used specially for intellectual gifts: "That gentle firmne to which, more perhaps than even to his great abilities , he owed his succe in life." -Macaulay: Hist. of Eng ., ch. xv1. Ability and capacity are not quite synonymous. Capacity refers especially to one's capability of receiving, particularly to receptivity of knowledge; ability implies that the intellect and knowledge are used in action: capacity looks upon the person as pa ive; ability as active. 3. The po e ion of wealth, means, or substance; wealth being power or "ability," concentrated in small compa till required. "Then the disciples, every man according to his ability , determined to send relief."- Acts xí. 29. 4. Metaphys, and Theology : Moral or spiritual power. 5. Law: Legal competence to do certain acts. As a suffix = fitne for, capability of. ā'-bill, a'-bil, a. & adv . [ABLE.] ( Scotch .) 1. Fit. 2. Able. 3. Perhaps. [Cf. AIBLINS.]