capable, a.
(ˈkeɪpəb(ə)l)
[a. F. capable (= Pr. capable), ad. late L. capābil-em (in early theological use: see Du Cange), irregularly f. L. cap-ĕre to take. The regular formation would have been capibilis; perh. capābilis was influenced by capax: Beda Lib. de Orthogr. has ‘capax, qui facile capit; capabilis, qui facile capitur’ (Du Cange); so Augustine, but Cassiodorus c. 575 has it in the active sense = capax, as in the mod. langs.]
† 1. Able to take in, receive, contain, or hold; having room or capacity for. Const. of, for, or inf. Obs.
| 1571 Digges Pantom. iv. xxv. G g ij, This transfygured, bodye is also capable of two internall spheres. 1601 T. Wright Passions (1620) 330 They are almost capable of a bushel of wheate. a 1618 Raleigh Lett. (1651) 87 The other five ships stand at Trinidado, having no other Port capable for them near Guiana. 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 25 Their Canoes..are..capable of three naked men. 1675 Hobbes Odyssey iii. 450 The seat was large and capable of two. 1686 tr. Chardin's Trav. 246 Capable to lodge two hundred men. 1704 Hearne Duct. Hist. (1714) I. 431 The Moselle..being not capable of Ships of Burden. 1775 Johnson Western Isl. Wks. X. 479 He has begun a road capable of a wheel-carriage. |
† b. fig. Able to take in with the mind or senses; able to perceive or comprehend. Obs.
| 1561 T. Norton Calvin's Inst. i. 26 Only those things be painted and grauen wherof our eies are capable. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. xi. (R.) Capable we are of God, both by vnderstanding and will. a 1662 Heylin Laud i. 222 The likeliest way to make them capable of the inconveniences they should run into. 1667 Milton P.L. viii. 51 Not capable her eare Of what was high. |
† 2. absol. Able to hold much; roomy, capacious.
| 1594 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. ii. 343 The rounde forme is most capable. 1617 Moryson Itin. iii. ii. iii. 86 The hugest and most capable vessels in his Cellar. 1650 Fuller Pisgah ii. ii. 75 That capable vessell of brass. |
† b. fig. Comprehensive. Obs.
| 1592 Nashe P. Penilesse (ed. 2) 33 b, You make this word Dæmon, a capable name of Gods, of men and of diuells. 1604 Shakes. Oth. iii. iii. 459 Till that a capeable, and wide Reuenge Swallow them vp. |
3. Able or fit to receive and be affected by; open to, susceptible: † a. of anything material. Obs.
| 1611 Tourneur Ath. Trag. v. i. Wks. 1878 I. 136 If any roote of life remaines within 'em Capable of Phisicke, feare 'em not my Lord. 1612 Davies Why Ireland, etc. (1787) 3 The husbandman must first break the land before it be made capable of good seed. 1662 Fuller Worthies (1840) I. 263 Some have flesh, salt, and flesh capable thereof. |
b. of things immaterial. arch.
| 1590 Greene Never too late (1600) 95 Mirimidas eares are not capable of any amorous persuasions. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, i. i. 172 You were aduis'd his flesh was capeable Of Wounds. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 283 His violence..being such As wee, not capable of death or paine..can repell. 1858 Bushnell Nat. & Supernat. x. (1864) 314 To be capable of his doctrine, only requires that the hearer be a human creature. |
c. absol.
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. iii. iv. 127 His forme and cause conioyn'd, preaching to stones, Would make them capeable. |
4. Able to be affected by; of a nature, or in a condition, to allow or admit of; admitting; susceptible. Const. of, also absol.
| 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lvii. §1 Infants which are not capable of instruction. 1652 Needham tr. Selden's Mare Cl. 11 The soil of a strange Citie is not capable of such a dedication. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 469 ¶5 He who is in any degree capable of Corruption. 1732 Berkeley Alciphr. vii. §33 The being of a God is capable of clear proof. 1736 Butler Anal. i. v. Wks. 1874 I. 96 It is easy to see, that we are capable of moral improvement by discipline. 1794 Sullivan View Nat. I. 45 [A matter] capable of explanation. 1868 J. H. Blunt Ref. Ch. Eng. I. 407 It was a system capable of very ready abuse. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 70 Men differ from the lower animals in that they are capable of musical discipline. |
5. Having the needful capacity, power, or fitness for (some specified purpose or activity). Const. of; formerly also inf.
| 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxxxi. §5 A quality which maketh capable of any function. 1634 Bp. Hall Occas. Medit. Wks. (1808) 111 No other creature, besides man, is capable to apprehend this beauty. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 264 ¶1 How few there are capable of a religious, learned, or philosophick Solitude. 1752 Johnson Rambl. No. 207 ¶8 Anything..capable of giving happiness. 1737–59 Miller Gard. Dict., The weaker trees being less capable to furnish a supply of nourishment. 1796 Bp. Watson Apol. Bible 338 You are capable of better things. 1863 E. Neale Anal. Th. & Nat. 51 Animals must be capable of forming general thoughts. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 91/3 A common compass-card, capable of free movement on a needle-point. |
b. In a bad sense: Having the effrontery, depravity, wickedness for.
| a 1680 S. Charnock in Spurgeon Treas. Dav. Ps. x. 11 The criminal capable to practise them. 1777 Burke Corr. (1844) II. 144 They who are capable of being forgers, are capable of being incendiaries. 1867 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. vi. 417 Eadric was capable of every wickedness. |
6. absol. Having general capacity, intelligence, or ability; qualified, gifted, able, competent.
| 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. iii. iii. 310 Let me carry another to his Horse; for that's the more capable creature. 1715 Burnet Own Time (1766) I. 31 The capablest man for business and the best speaker in that kingdom. 1728 Morgan Algiers II. v. 294 Giving him, when capable, the whole management of all his domestic affairs. 1857 A. Jameson Leg. Madonna 237 Joseph as the vigilant and capable guardian of the Mother and the Child. 1871 Blackie Four Phases i. 3 A more capable..witness could not be desired. |
† 7. Having some external, esp. a legal, capacity or qualification; qualified, entitled; in Law, qualified to hold or possess (property, etc.). Const. of, also absol. Obs.
| 1605 Shakes. Lear ii. i. 87 Of my land..Ile worke the meanes To make thee capable. 1610 J. Guillim Heraldry ii. v. (1660) 65 Bastards are not capable of their Fathers patrimony. 1633 Bp. Hall Hard Texts 134 To keepe themselves from all legall pollution, that they might be capable of eating the passover. 1760 T. Hutchinson Hist. Coll. Mass. ii. (1765) 327 Protestants..were capable of being made freemen. 1809 Tomlins Law Dict. s.v. Capacity, An alien born..is capable of personal estate; but he is not capable of lands of inheritance. 1818 Cruise Digest VI. 534 The devisee must be a person capable at the death of the devisor. |