LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
adjectivethird-declension two-termination adjective

habilis

habilis (neuter habile, comparative habilior)
Classical[ˈha.bɪ.lɪs]Ecclesiastical[ˈaː.bi.lis]

Meaning

  1. two terminationable to have/possess/maintain
  2. two terminationhaving sufficient ability or power to do or to conduct; skillful
  3. two terminationsuitable, apt, fit, proper
  4. two terminationnimble, swift
  5. two terminationmanageable

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

Declension

singular
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativehabilishabilishabile
genitivehabilishabilishabilis
dativehabilīhabilīhabilī
accusativehabilemhabilemhabile
ablativehabilīhabilīhabilī
vocativehabilishabilishabile
plural
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativehabilēshabilēshabilia
genitivehabiliumhabiliumhabilium
dativehabilibushabilibushabilibus
accusativehabilīs
habilēs		habilīs
habilēs		habilia
ablativehabilibushabilibushabilibus
vocativehabilēshabilēshabilia

hăbĭlis, e, adj. habeo, II. B. 2.,
I. that may be easily handled or managed, manageable, suitable, fit, proper, apt, expert, light, nimble, swift (class.).
I. Lit.: (calcei) habiles et apti ad pedem, Cic. de Or. 1, 54, 231; cf.: (natura homini) figuram corporis habilem et aptam ingenio humano dedit, id. Leg. 1, 9, 26; res aptae, habiles et ad naturam accommodatae, id. Fin. 4, 20, 56: brevitate habiles gladii, Liv. 22, 46, 5: ensis, Verg. A. 9, 305: arcus, id. ib. 1, 318: pharetra ad tela, Val. Fl. 3, 607: frameae, Tac. G. 6: currus, Ov. M. 2, 531: aratrum, Tib. 1, 9, 7: naves velis, Tac. A. 2, 6: corpus habilissimum quadratum est, neque gracile neque obesum, the most convenient for managing, treating, Cels. 2, 1; cf.: materia levis est et ad hoc habilis, Sen. Q. N. 1, 7: atque habilis membris venit vigor, i. e. making supple, Verg. G. 4, 418: (bos) nec feturae habilis nec fortis aratris, fit, proper for, id. ib. 3, 62: terra frumentis, Col. 2, 2, 20; cf.: Aegyptum ut feraciorem habilioremque annonae urbicae redderet, Suet. Aug. 18: pinguibus hae (vites) terris habiles, levioribus illae, Verg. G. 2, 92: rudem ad pedestria bella Numidarum gentem esse, equis tantum habilem, Liv. 24, 48, 5; cf.: ducenta fere milia peditum, armis habilia, able to bear arms, Vell. 2, 110, 3: nondum portandis habiles gravioribus armis, Sil. 11, 588.—
II. Trop.: sunt quidam ita in iisdem rebus habiles, ita naturae muneribus ornati, ut, etc., apt, expert, skilful (= capax), Cic. de Or. 1, 25, 115: acutior atque habilior ad inveniendum, Quint. 6, 3, 12: numquam ingenium idem ad res diversissimas habilius fuit, Liv. 21, 4, 3: exercitus non habilis gubernaculo, not easy to govern, Vell. 2, 113, 2: negotia expedita et habilia sequuntur actorem, Sen. de Ira, 3, 7: et vicina seni non habilis Lyco, not suited (on account of her age), Hor. C. 3, 19, 24: non habiles Colchi, i. e. uncivilized, rude, Val. Fl. 7, 231.—
(b). Poet., with inf.: plaudentique habiles Caryae resonare Dianae, Stat. Th. 4, 225; Luc. 3, 553.—Hence, adv.: hăbĭlĭter, handily, aptly, expertly, skilfully, easily (very rare): scutum parvum habiliter ferens, Liv. Epit. 57: ut elephantis, sicut nos equis, facile atque habiliter utantur, Mel. 3, 7; Dig. 34, 2, 20.

Origins

From habeō (“to have, possess”) + -ilis. Alternatively, from habeō + -bilis, with haplology simplifying -bibi- to -bi-.

Descendants
  • Catalanhàbil
  • Italianabile
  • Occitanabil
  • Frenchhabilefrom Old French able
  • Romanianabilfrom Old French able
  • Englishablefrom Old French able
  • Englishhabilefrom Old French able
  • Portuguesehábil
  • Spanishhábil
  • Istriotàbile

In English words that came into English from habilis

  • ablehabilis
  • abilityhabilitās
  • habilitationhabilitatio
  • debilitatedēbilitō
  • debilitydēbilitās
  • habilehabilis
  • habilitatehabilitātus

Quick answers

What does habilis mean in Latin?
habilis, a adjective, means “able to have/possess/maintain; having sufficient ability or power to do or to conduct; skillful”.
How do you pronounce habilis?
In classical Latin, [ˈha.bɪ.lɪs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈaː.bi.lis].
Which English words come from habilis?
English words that go back to Latin habilis include able, habile, ability, habilitate, habilitation and debilitate.