Where does “ablest” come from?
Ablest derives from English able, from Middle English ablen and Middle English able, ultimately from Proto-Germanic -istaz and Proto-Indo-European -istHos, -tós, and -yoss.
ablest (English): superlative form of able: most able
Definitions
- superlative form of able: most able
Ancestry of “ablest”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | able | Easy to use; Suitable; competent; Liable to |
| 2 | Middle English | able | capable, expert, qualified, skilful, competent |
| 3 | Old French | able | able; capable |
| 4 | Latin | habilis | able to have/possess/maintain; having sufficient... |
| 5 | Latin | -ilis | -ile |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | -elis | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -elis | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -lós | Forms agent nouns from verbal roots |