abel
/ˈeɪbəl/
noun
Familiar
1.n.Norwegian mathematician (1802-1829)
2.n.(Old Testament) Cain and Abel were the first children of Adam and Eve born after the Fall of Man; Abel was killed by Cain
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abel and able are homophones: they are pronounced identically and spelled differently, which is why they are so often swapped. abel means “Norwegian mathematician (1802-1829)”. able means “(usually followed by `to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something”. able is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈeɪbəl/
1.n.Norwegian mathematician (1802-1829)
2.n.(Old Testament) Cain and Abel were the first children of Adam and Eve born after the Fall of Man; Abel was killed by Cain
/ˈeɪbəl/
1.adj.(usually followed by `to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
“able to swim”
2.adj.have the skills and qualifications to do things well
“able teachers”
3.adj.having inherent physical or mental ability or capacity
“able to learn”
| abel | able | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪbəl/ | /ˈeɪbəl/ |
| Said | AY-buhl | AY-buhl |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Letters | 4 | 4 |
| Parts of speech | noun | adjective |
| Senses | 2 | 4 |
| How common | Familiar | Core |
| Synonyms | Niels Abel, Niels Henrik Abel | none recorded |
Full entry for abel · Full entry for able · More comparisons