a. [a. F. capable (= Pr. capable), ad. late L. capābil-em (in early theological use: see Du Cange), irregularly f. L. cap-ĕre to take. The regular formation would have been capibilis; perh. capābilis was influenced by capax: Beda, Lib. de Orthogr. has ‘capax, qui facile capit; capabilis, qui facile capitur’ (Du Cange); so Augustine, but Cassiodorus c. 575 has it in the active sense = capax, as in the mod. langs.]
† 1. Able to take in, receive, contain or hold; having room or capacity for. Const. of, for, or inf. Obs.
1571. Digges, Pantom., IV. xxv. G g ij. This transfygured bodye is also capable of two internall spheres.
1601. T. Wright, Passions (1620), 330. They are almost capable of a bushel of wheate.
a. 1618. Raleigh, Lett. (1651), 87. The other five ships stand at Trinidado, having no other Port capable for them near Guiana.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 25. Their Canoes or Boats are hued out of one tree, and capable of three naked men.
1675. Hobbes, Odyssey, III. 450. The seat was large and capable of two.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 246. Capable to lodge Two Hundred Men.
1704. Hearne, Duct. Hist. (1714), I. 431. The Moselle … being not capable of Ships of Burden.
1775. Johnson, Western Isl., Wks. X. 479. He has begun a road capable of a wheel-carriage.
† b. fig. Able to take in with the mind or senses; able to perceive or comprehend. Obs.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., I. 26. Only those things be painted and grauen wherof our eies are capable.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. xi. (R.). Capable we are of God, both by vnderstanding and will.
a. 1662. Heylin, Laud, I. (1671), 222. The likeliest way to make them capable of the inconveniences they should run into.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 51. Not capable her eare Of what was high.
2. absol. Able to hold much; roomy, capacious.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 343. The rounde forme is most capable.
1617. Moryson, Itin., III. II. iii. 86. The hugest and most capable vessels in his Cellar.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, II. ii. 75. That capable vessell of brass.
† b. fig. Comprehensive. Obs.
1592. Nashe, P. Penilesse (ed. 2), 33 b. You make this word Dæmon, a capable name of Gods, of men and of diuells.
1604. Shaks., Oth., III. iii. 459. Till that a capeable, and wide Reuenge Swallow them vp.
3. Able or fit to receive and be affected by; open to, susceptible: † a. of anything material. Obs.
1611. Tourneur, Ath. Trag., V. i. Wks. 1878, I. 136. If any roote of life remaines within ’em Capable of Phisicke, feare ’em not my Lord.
1612. Davies, Why Ireland, etc. (1787), 3. The husbandman must first break the land before it be made capable of good seed.
1662. Fuller, Worthies (1840), I. 263. Some have flesh, salt, and flesh capable thereof.
b. of things immaterial. arch.
1590. Greene, Never too late (1600), 95. Mirimidas eares are not capable of any amorous persuasions.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., I. i. 172. You were aduis’d his flesh was capeable Of Wounds.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 283. His violence … being such As wee, not capable of death or paine … can repell.
1858. Bushnell, Nat. & Supernat., x. (1864), 314. To be capable of his doctrine, only requires that the hearer be a human creature.
c. absol.
1602. Shaks., Ham., III. iv. 127. His forme and cause conioyn’d, preaching to stones, Would make them capeable.
4. Able to be affected by; of a nature, or in a condition, to allow or admit of; admitting; susceptible. Const. of, also absol.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lvii. § 1. Infants which are not capable of instruction.
1652. Needham, trans. Selden’s Mare Cl., 12. The soil of a strange Citie is not capable of such a dedication.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 469, ¶ 5. He who is in any degree capable of Corruption.
1732. Berkeley, Alciphr., vii. § 33. The being of a God is capable of clear proof.
1736. Butler, Anal., I. v. 90. It is easy to see, that we are capable of moral Improvement by Discipline.
1794. R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., I. 45. [A matter] capable of explanation.
1868. J. H. Blunt. Ref. Ch. Eng., I. 407. It was a system capable of very ready abuse.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 70. Men differ from the lower animals in that they are capable of musical discipline.
5. Having the needful capacity, power, or fitness for (some specified purpose or activity). Const. of; formerly also inf.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxxxi. § 5. A quality which maketh capable of any function.
1634. Bp. Hall, Occas. Medit., Wks. (1808), 111. No other creature, besides man, is capable to apprehend this beauty.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 264, ¶ 1. How few there are capable of a religious, learned, or philosophick Solitude.
1752. Johnson, Rambl., No. 207, ¶ 8. Anything … capable of giving happiness.
1737–59. Miller, Gard. Dict., The weaker trees being less capable to furnish a supply of nourishment.
1796. Bp. Watson, Apol. Bible, 338. You are capable of better things.
1863. E. V. Neale, Anal. Th. & Nat., 51. Animals must be capable of forming general thoughts.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 91/3. A common compass-card, capable of free movement on a needle-point.
b. In a bad sense: Having the effrontery, depravity, wickedness for.
a. 1680. S. Charnock, in Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. x. 11. The criminal capable to practise them.
1777. Burke, Corr. (1844), II. 144. They who are capable of being forgers, are capable of being incendiaries.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq. (1876), I. vi. 417. Eadric was capable of every wickedness.
6. absol. Having general capacity, intelligence or ability; qualified, gifted, able, competent.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., III. iii. 310. Let me carry another to his Horse; for that’s the more capable creature.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1765), I. 31. The capablest man for business and the best speaker in that kingdom.
1728. Morgan, Algiers, II. v. 294. Giving him, when capable, the whole Management of all his domestic Affairs.
1857. Mrs. Jameson, Leg. Madonna, 237. Joseph as the vigilant and capable guardian of the Mother and the Child.
1871. Blackie, Four Phases, i. 3–4. A more capable and trustworthy witness could not be desired.
† 7. Having some external, esp. a legal, capacity or qualification; qualified, entitled; in Law, qualified to hold or possess (property, etc.). Const. of, also absol. Obs.
1605. Shaks., Lear, II. i. 87. Of my land … Ile worke the meanes To make thee capable.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, II. v. (1660), 65. Bastards are not capable of their Fathers patrimony.
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, 134. To keepe themselves from all legall pollution, that they might be capable of eating the passover.
1760. T. Hutchinson, Hist. Coll. Mass., ii. (1765), 327. Protestants … were capable of being made freemen.
1809. Tomlins, Law Dict., s.v. Capacity, An alien born … is capable of personal estate; but he is not capable of lands of inheritance.
1818. Cruise, Digest, VI. 534. The devisee must be a person capable at the death of the devisor.
