ableness

Noun

ableness (usually uncountable, plural ablenesses)

1. (archaic, usually) Ability of body or mind.
   • […]not that we are ſufficient of oure ſelues to thynke eny thinge, as of oure ſelues, but oure ableneſſe commeth of God,[…]1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, II. Corinthians...
   • […] in ſtead of a brother ſhe [Empress Matilda] had a ſonne grew vp to be of more eſtimatiõ with the Nobilitie, and ſhortly after of ablenes to vndergo the trauailes of warre.1612, Samuel Danyel [i.e., Daniel], “The Raigne of King Stephen”, in The First Part of the Historie of England, London: […] Nicholas Okes, […], →OCLC, page 225

   Synonyms:

   force, power, vigour

2. (specifically, usually) The degree to which one is abled or disabled.
   • In academic discourse, hybridity is out; intersectionality is in. People are imagined as the sum of their race, gender, sexuality, ableness, and other identities.2018 December 3, Louis Menand, “Literary Hoaxes and the Ethics of Authorship”, in The New Yorker, New York, N.Y.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Mar 2023
   • The card's release is presented as part of a broader effort to demonstrate that inclusiveness, and addressing discrimination across race, sex or degrees of ableness isn't just a social marketing good—it's good for business.2021 October 26, David Kaplan, “Mastercard's Touch Card Continues Brand's Marketing Efforts to Engage All Consumers—and Their Senses”, in Adweek, New York, N.Y.: Adweek, LLC, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived...
3. (countable, rare, usually) Something one is able to do.
   • For [Peter] Morriss abilities are the capacities we have which we may use under particular conditions (power in a generic sense). Ablenesses are the abilities when those particular conditions obtain (power in a particular sense).1991, Keith Dowding, chapter 4, in Rational Choice and Political Power, Aldershot, Hants: E. Elgar, page 52

   Synonyms:

   ability, capacity, competency