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Able vs Capacity - What's the difference?

able | capacity |

As adjectives the difference between able and capacity

is that able is easy to use while capacity is filling the allotted space.

As nouns the difference between able and capacity

is that able is a word that is used in place of the letter "A" during communication.Wpcapacity is the ability to hold, receive or absorb.

As a verb able

is to make ready.

able

English

Alternative forms

* (obsolete) hable

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from .

Adjective

(er)
  • (obsolete, passive) Easy to use.
  • * 1710 , Thomas Betterton, The life of Mr. Thomas Betterton, the late eminent tragedian. :
  • As the hands are the most habil parts of the body...
  • (obsolete, passive) Suitable; competent.
  • * 2006 , Jon L. Wakelyn, America's Founding Charters: Primary Documents of Colonial and Revolutionary Era Governance, Volume 1 , Greenwood Publishing Group, pages 212:
  • ...and for every able man servant that he or she shall carry or send armed and provided as aforesaid, ninety acres of land of like measure.
  • (obsolete, dialectal, passive) Liable to.
  • Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task.
  • Free from constraints preventing completion of task; permitted to; not prevented from.
  • I’ll see you as soon as I’m able .
    With that obstacle removed, I am now able to proceed with my plan.
    I’m only able to visit you when I have other work here.
    That cliff is able to be climbed.
  • (obsolete, dialectal) Having the physical strength; robust; healthy.
  • After the past week of forced marches, only half the men are fully able .
  • (obsolete) Rich; well-to-do.
  • He was born to an able family.
  • Gifted with skill, intelligence, knowledge, or competence.
  • The chairman was also an able sailor.
  • (legal) Legally]] [[qualify, qualified or competent.
  • He is able to practice law in six states.
  • (nautical) Capable of performing all the requisite duties; as an able seaman.
  • Synonyms
    * See also
    Derived terms
    * ability * -able * able-bodied * able seaman * ableism * be able, be able to * capable * disable * disabled * disablism * disability * enable

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) ablen, from (etyl) able (adjective).

    Verb

    (abl)
  • (obsolete) To make ready.
  • (obsolete) To make capable; to enable.
  • (obsolete) To dress.
  • (obsolete) To give power to; to reinforce; to confirm.
  • (obsolete) To vouch for; to guarantee.
  • * vi
  • None does offend, none....I’ll able ’em.
    Derived terms
    * abled

    Etymology 3

    Noun

    (-)
  • A word that is used in place of the letter "A" during communication.
  • Statistics

    *

    References

    Anagrams

    * ----

    capacity

    English

    Noun

    (capacities)
  • The ability to hold, receive or absorb
  • A measure of such ability; volume
  • The maximum amount that can be held
  • It was hauling a capacity load.
    The orchestra played to a capacity crowd.
  • Capability; the ability to perform some task
  • The maximum that can be produced.
  • Mental ability; the power to learn
  • A faculty; the potential for growth and development
  • A role; the position in which one functions
  • Legal authority (to make an arrest for example)
  • Electrical capacitance.
  • (operations) The maximum that can be produced on a machine or in a facility or group.
  • Its capacity''' rating was 150 tons per hour, but its actual maximum '''capacity was 200 tons per hour.

    Synonyms

    * throughput * See also

    Derived terms

    * capacitance * capacitation * capacitor

    Adjective

  • Filling the allotted space.
  • There will be a capacity crowd at Busch stadium for the sixth game.
  • * 2012 , August 1. Owen Gibson in Guardian Unlimited, London 2012: rowers Glover and Stanning win Team GB's first gold medal
  • At an overcast Eton Dorney, roared on by a capacity crowd including Prince Harry and Prince William, the volume rose as they entered the final stages.