SYNONYMS | EXAMPLES | WORD ORIGIN adjective Law conferring new legal powers or capacities, especially by removing a disability; having the right to license or regulate: an enabling act; enabling power.
Origin of enabling First recorded in
1670–80; enable +
-ing2 verb (used with object), en·a·bled, en·a·bling. to make able ; give power, means, competence, or ability to; authorize: This document will enable him to pass through the enemy lines unmolested. to make possible or easy: Aeronautics enables us to overcome great distances.
to make ready; equip (often used in combination): web-enabled cell phones.
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Origin of enable Middle English word dating back to
1375–1425; see origin at
en-1 ,
able Related forms en·a·bler , noun pre·en·a·ble , verb (used with object), pre·en·a·bled, pre·en·a·bling. Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for enabling Contemporary Examples of enabling Marrying yourself merely underscores selfishness and self-interest, rather than enabling you to live singly in the best way.
They pioneered arena performances and electric light, enabling the first night performances.
The plan is to build a holistic cloud operating system for businesses and individuals, enabling a new generation of work and play.
Yet critics of the right to be forgotten argue that by removing Google search results, the law is enabling censorship.
This is what the larger Washington establishment has become: The enabling spouse of the drunk.
Historical Examples of enabling About five it returned, gentle enough, enabling us to head for the roadstead.
How ungrateful of him, when you have been the means of enabling him to kick me out of the Sixth.
Only then will they be able to make strong and enabling commitments.
These had been useful, in enabling them to keep a straight course.
How grateful ought we to be to France for enabling you to do it.
British Dictionary definitions for enabling verb (tr) to provide (someone) with adequate power, means, opportunity, or authority (to do something)
to make possible
to put (a digital electronic circuit element) into an operative condition by supplying a suitable input pulse
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Derived Forms enablement , noun enabler , noun Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for enabling v. early 15c., "to make fit;" mid-15c., "to make able to," from en- (1) "make, put in" + able . Related: Enabled ; enabling .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
