Obs. Forms: 4 abilnesse, 4–7 ableness(e, 5 ablynesse, 5–6 ablenes, 6 hablenes(se. [f. ABLE a. + -NESS.] The quality of being able; ability.
c. 1390. Chaucer, Test. Love, II. 284/2 (1560). I wist well thine ablenes my service to further.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R. (1495), XVIII. xxv. 797. The wylde gote hath ablynesse and lyghtnesse to renne.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of Armes, I. x. 28. They saw hem with theyre ablenes of body.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Cor. iii. 5. Oure ablenesse commeth of God.
1548. Geste, Preuee Masse, 72. More or less, according to his hablenes.
1610. Healey, Augustine’s City of God, I. x. 17. It taught them a sparing dyet and ablenesse to faste.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 440. The Prophets ablenesse to heale him.
