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Able vs Sable - What's the difference?

able | sable |

As adjectives the difference between able and sable

is that able is (obsolete|passive) easy to use while sable is sandy.

As verbs the difference between able and sable

is that able is (obsolete) to make ready while sable is .

As nouns the difference between able and sable

is that able is a word that is used in place of the letter "a" during communication while sable is , shortbread.

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

    * ----

    sable

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (in heraldic contexts)

    Noun

  • A small carnivorous mammal of the Old World that resembles a weasel, Martes zibellina , from cold regions in Eurasia and the North Pacific islands, valued for its dark brown fur ().
  • The marten, especially .
  • The fur or pelt of the sable or other species of martens; a coat made from this fur.
  • *1928 , (Virginia Woolf),
  • *:Lovers dallied upon divans spread with sables .
  • An artist's brush made from the fur of the sable ().
  • (lb) A black colour on a coat of arms.
  • A black colour, resembling the fur of some sables.
  • :
  • Black garments, especially worn in mourning.
  • *(rfdate) Young
  • *:Sables wove by destiny.
  • *
  • *:a delighted shout from the children swung him toward the door again. His sister, Mrs. Gerard, stood there in carriage gown and sables , radiant with surprise. ¶ "Phil!  You!   Exactly like you, Philip, to come strolling in from the antipodes—dear fellow!" recovering from the fraternal embrace and holding both lapels of his coat in her gloved hands.
  • Derived terms

    * sable antelope * sablefish * sable iron * sable mouse

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of the black colour sable.
  • * (rfdate) Young
  • Night, sable goddess! from her ebon throne, / In rayless majesty, now stretches forth / Her leaden sceptre o'er a slumbering world.
  • * 2002 , , chapter 3
  • They wound between the wagons to a tent removed from the rest of the traders'. It was crimson at the top and sable at the bottom, with thin triangles of colors stabbing into each other.
  • (tincture): In blazon, of the colour black.
  • Made of sable fur.
  • Dark, somber.
  • * '>citation
  • See also

    *

    References

    * Random House Dictionary, 2nd Edition, 1987.

    Anagrams

    * ----