ability

Where does the word "ability" come from? It comes from Latin habere, passing through Latin before entering English (1300s).

Ability’s story begins in Latin: habere meant “to have, to hold.” To have, to hold, giving rise to habilis (apt, capable). Within Latin, it grew into habilitas by ancient. Aptitude, capability, from habilis. It reached English by 1300s as ability. First recorded before 1398 in John Trevisa's English translation of the Latin encyclopedia 'De proprietatibus rerum'. Today, ability means the possession of the means, skill, or power to do something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient habere "to have, to hold", to have, to hold, giving rise to habilis (apt, capable).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient habilitas "aptitude, capability", aptitude, capability, from habilis.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s ability "the possession of skill or means to do something", first recorded before 1398 in John Trevisa's English translation of the Latin encyclopedia 'De proprietatibus rerum'.