Search Result for "ability": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (2)

1. the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment;

2. possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done;
- Example: "danger heightened his powers of discrimination"
[syn: ability, power]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ability \A*bil"i*ty\ ([.a]*b[i^]l"[i^]*t[y^]), n.; pl. Abilities ([.a]*b[i^]l"[i^]*t[i^]z). [F. habilet['e], earlier spelling habilit['e] (with silent h), L. habilitas aptitude, ability, fr. habilis apt. See Able.] The quality or state of being able; power to perform, whether physical, moral, intellectual, conventional, or legal; capacity; skill or competence in doing; sufficiency of strength, skill, resources, etc.; -- in the plural, faculty, talent. [1913 Webster] Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren. --Acts xi. 29. [1913 Webster] Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study. --Bacon. [1913 Webster] The public men of England, with much of a peculiar kind of ability. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster] Syn: Capacity; talent; cleverness; faculty; capability; efficiency; aptitude; aptness; address; dexterity; skill. Usage: Ability, Capacity. These words come into comparison when applied to the higher intellectual powers. Ability has reference to the active exercise of our faculties. It implies not only native vigor of mind, but that ease and promptitude of execution which arise from mental training. Thus, we speak of the ability with which a book is written, an argument maintained, a negotiation carried on, etc. It always something to be done, and the power of doing it. Capacity has reference to the receptive powers. In its higher exercises it supposes great quickness of apprehension and breadth of intellect, with an uncommon aptitude for acquiring and retaining knowledge. Hence it carries with it the idea of resources and undeveloped power. Thus we speak of the extraordinary capacity of such men as Lord Bacon, Blaise Pascal, and Edmund Burke. "Capacity," says H. Taylor, "is requisite to devise, and ability to execute, a great enterprise." The word abilities, in the plural, embraces both these qualities, and denotes high mental endowments. [1913 Webster] Abime
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

ability n 1: the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment [ant: inability, unfitness] 2: possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done; "danger heightened his powers of discrimination" [syn: ability, power] [ant: inability]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

132 Moby Thesaurus words for "ability": ableness, address, adeptness, adequacy, adroitness, airmanship, aptitude, aptness, artfulness, artisanship, artistry, bravura, brilliance, bump, caliber, capability, capableness, capacity, capital, cleverness, command, competence, competency, condition, control, coordination, craft, craftsmanship, cunning, deftness, devices, dexterity, dexterousness, dextrousness, diplomacy, disposable resources, dower, dowry, efficacy, efficiency, endowment, equipment, expertise, expertism, expertness, facility, faculty, finesse, fitness, fittedness, flair, forte, funds, genius, gift, grace, grip, handiness, horsemanship, ingeniousness, ingenuity, instinct, knack, know-how, long suit, makings, marksmanship, mastership, mastery, maturity, means, method, metier, might, natural endowment, natural gift, parts, potential, power, powers, practical ability, preparedness, proficiency, prowess, qualification, quickness, readiness, recourses, resorts, resource, resourcefulness, resources, ripeness, savoir-faire, savvy, seamanship, seasoning, skill, skillfulness, speciality, stock, strong flair, strong point, style, sufficiency, suitability, suitableness, suitedness, supply, susceptibility, tact, tactfulness, talent, talents, technical brilliance, technical mastery, technical skill, technique, tempering, the goods, the stuff, timing, trim, virtuosity, ways, ways and means, what it takes, wherewith, wherewithal, wit, wizardry, workmanship
The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

ABILITY, n. The natural equipment to accomplish some small part of the meaner ambitions distinguishing able men from dead ones. In the last analysis ability is commonly found to consist mainly in a high degree of solemnity. Perhaps, however, this impressive quality is rightly appraised; it is no easy task to be solemn.