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-ability

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

Middle English -abilite ≪ Latin -ābilitās
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Word Origin and History for -ability

word-forming element expressing ability, fitness, or capacity, from Latin -abilitas, forming nouns from adjectives ending in -abilis (see -able). Not etymologically related to ability, though popularly connected with it.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper