Wiktionary

-ability

See also: ability

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English -ablete, -iblete, -abilite, -ibilite, from Middle French -ableté, -ibleté, -abilité, -ibilité, from Latin -abilitas, -ibilitas, from -abilis (“able”) or -ibilis (“able”) -tas. Equivalent to -able -ity.

Pronunciation

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Suffix

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-ability

  1. Forms a noun from a verb or an adjective by changing from -able; ability, inclination or suitability for a specified function or condition.
    vulner(able) → vulnerability

Usage notes

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  • This suffix is equivalent to -able -ity, but as it involves both a sound and spelling change it can be seen as a suffix in its own right. Compare -ification (equivalent to -ify -ation).

Derived terms

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English terms suffixed with -ability
terms derived using -ability
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other terms ending in "ability"

Translations

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