Etymology

-ability

Today it means: Forms a noun from a verb or an adjective by changing from -able; ability, inclination or suitability for a specified function or condition. Full definition →

Middle English -ablete ← Middle French -ableté ← Latin -abilitas
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The story

  1. Latin · derived from-abilitas
  2. Middle French · derived from-ableté
  3. Middle English · inherited from-ablete
  4. English today-ability

From Middle English -ablete, -iblete, -abilite, -ibilite, from Middle French -ableté, -ibleté, -abilité, -ibilité, from Latin -abilitas, -ibilitas, from -abilis (“able”) or -ibilis (“able”) + -tas. Equivalent to -able + -ity. See ability.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.