Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Generally able or adroit; handy.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Able; apt; skilful; handy.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective obsolete Fit; qualified; also, apt.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Generally
able oradroit ;handy .
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
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Examples
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The clocher at Senlis is more "habile"; it shows an effort to be clever, and offers a standard of comparison; but the mediaeval architects seem to have thought that none of them bore rivalry with Laon for technical skill.
Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres Henry Adams 1878
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Mais un habile homme sait tirer parti de tout, and everybody is good for something.
Letters to his son on The Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman 2005
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Here, he began to tuck in anew, aiding the slow work of his spoon with his more habile fingers.
Australia Felix 2003
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Cet homme, habile dans les affaires, et employ� comme tel par Charlemagne, avoit 閠� en 811 envoy� par lui en ambassade � Constantinople.
The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation 2003
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The comment of M. Paul-Dubois on these attempts to foist on the Catholic Church responsibility for the evil case in which Ireland finds herself, deserves quotation: -- "Cette thèse grossière et fanatique ne vaut l'honneur d'un devellopment ni d'une discussion: contentons nous de remarquer comme il est habile et simple de rejeter sur Rome la responsabilité des malheurs d'Erin en disculpant ainsi et l'Angleterre et la colonie anglaise en Irlande!"
Ireland and the Home Rule Movement Michael F. J. McDonnell
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_ "Il devient aise d'etre habile lorsqu'on s'est delivre des scrupules et des loix, de tout honneur et de toute justice, des droits de ses semblables, et des devoirs de l'autorite -- a ce degre d'independence la plupart des obstacles qui modifient l'activite humaine disparaissent; l'on parait avoir du talent lorsqu'on n'a que de l'impudence, et l'abus de la force passe pour energie. _*"
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She watched his academic awkwardness in church with the inward tender smile of the eternal habile feminine, and when they met she could have laughed and wept over his straightened sentences and his difficult manner, knowing how little significant they were.
The Imperialist Sara Jeannette Duncan
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_ "Il devient aise d'etre habile lorsqu'on s'est delivre des scrupules et des loix, de tout honneur et de toute justice, des droits de ses semblables, et des devoirs de l'autorite -- a ce degre d'independence la plupart des obstacles qui modifient l'activite humaine disparaissent; l'on parait avoir du talent lorsqu'on n'a que de l'impudence, et l'abus de la force passe pour energie. _*"
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"But on the contrary," they should still have continued in communion with her, and subjection to her in matters lawful, in a way of testifying "against the same, and essaying their reformation, by all means that were habile for them."
Act, Declaration, & Testimony for the Whole of our Covenanted Reformation, as Attained to, and Established in Britain and Ireland; Particularly Betwixt the Years 1638 and 1649, Inclusive The Reformed Presbytery
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That yet, notwithstanding, the subject (in the use of lawful endeavors for his own vindication) must continue in subjection and obedience to the ruler, in lawful commands, while the civil state continues to acknowledge him; and this, as the only habile mean of convincing the ruler of his error, and preventing further evils.
Act, Declaration, & Testimony for the Whole of our Covenanted Reformation, as Attained to, and Established in Britain and Ireland; Particularly Betwixt the Years 1638 and 1649, Inclusive The Reformed Presbytery
qms commented on the word habile
To raise your verse above the babble
Start out with the simplest dabble.
Begin with June/moon
And find very soon
Your voice become fluent and habile.
May 30, 2017