a•bil•i•ty^*əˈbɪl ɪ ti(n.)(pl.)-ties.

1. power or capacity to do or act physically, mentally, legally, morally, or financially.

2. competence based on natural skill, training, or other qualification.

3. abilities, talents; special skills or aptitudes.

^* Syn: ability , faculty , talent denote power or capacity to do something. ability is the general word for a natural or acquired capacity to do things; it usu. implies doing them well: a leader of great ability; ability in mathematics. faculty denotes a natural or acquired ability for a particular kind of action: a faculty for putting people at ease.talent usu. denotes an exceptional natural ability or aptitude in a particular field: a talent for music.

Origin of ability:

1350–1400; ME (h)abilite < MF < L habilitās aptitude =habili(s) handy (see able ) +-tās -ty2

-ability

1. a combination of -able and -ity , found on nouns corresponding to adjectives in -able :

   capability.

   Category: Affix

Origin of -ability:

ME -abilite蠐 L -ābilitās