habilis

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈha.bɪ.lɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaː.bi.lis]^[1]

Forms

habilis (neuter habile, comparative habilior); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin habeō (“to have, hold”) + -ilis, or from habeō with -bilis and haplology.^[2][1] De Vaan derives habeō from Proto-Italic *χab/f-ē- (“to have taken, hold”), and Proto-Indo-European *gʰh₁bʰ- (“to take”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Ennius uses it of swords easy to wield.^[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant easy to handle or wield, of weapons, the body or clothing, and so readily applied to a use, adaptable or fit.^[2] Cicero speaks of shoes well fitted to the foot.^[2][5] It also meant skilful, nimble or swift.^[1][5]

In medieval British Latin it was used of machines easy to move.^[6] It survives in Italian abile and Spanish hábil, and through Old French able it gave English able in the early 14th century.^[1][7]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of handy swords.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of shoes fitted to the foot.^[5][4]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of short, handy swords.^[8][4]
• early 14th century – English able is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Easy to handle or wield, manageable.^[2]
2. Fit, suitable, apt.^[2][1]
3. Skilful, able.^[1]
4. Nimble, swift.^[1][5]

Word family

• habilitās
• inhabilis
• habiliter
• habilitō

Related words

• habeō
• English able
• English ability
• English habile

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
8. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.