a combination of -able and -ity, found on nouns corresponding to adjectives in -able:
capability.
Origin
Middle English-abilite ≪ Latin-ābilitās
Related Words
-ibility
accountability
adjustability
cleanability
drawability
drivability
-ability noun suffix also-ibility
ETYMOLOGY Middle English -abilite, -ibilite, from Anglo-French -abilité, -ibilité, from Latin -abilitas, -ibilitas, from -abilis, -ibilis -able + -tas -ty
: capacity, fitness, or tendency to act or be acted on in a (specified) way agglutinability
-ability
/əˈbɪlətɪ/
suffix
forming nouns of quality corresponding to adjectives ending in -able (such as suitability corresponding to suitable)
［构成以-able结尾的形容词的相应名词 ］。
词源
from French -abilité or Latin -abilitas.
-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.
-ability/əˈbɪlɪti/suffix.
ORIGIN:French-abilité from Latin-abilitas.
Forming nouns chiefly from adjectives in -able: see -ity.
-ability noun suffix also-ibility\“\ (-es) Etymology: Middle English -ablete, -abilite, -iblete, -ibilite, from Middle French -ableté, -abilité, -ibleté, -ibilité, from Latin -abilitas, -ibilitas, from -abilis, -ibilis + -tas -ty : capacity, fitness, or tendency to act or be acted on in a (specified) way < ensilability > < washability >
-ability
-ibility
(US) IPA: /əˈbɪl.ə.ti/
Suffix
Forms a noun from a verb; ability, inclination or suitability for a specified function or condition.
Etymology
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 or -ty
Usage notes
Most words ending in "ability" formed in English are first attested after corresponding words ending in -able.
Note that this is not simply -able + -ity: in English it is a parallel formation, not a compound suffix: there is a sound and spelling change. Compare -ably (compound suffix) and -ification (parallel suffix).
Some words ending in "ability" are alterations of words of French origin ending in "abilité" or, possibly, Latin words ending in "abilitas".
Derived terms
► English words suffixed with -ability
absorbability, from absorbable
acceptability, from acceptable
accountability, from accountable
adaptability, from adaptable
affability, from affable
availability, from available
bouncebackability
capability, from capable
culpability, from culpable
desirability, from desirable
durability
flammability
inability
inflammability
instability
liability
malleability
nonability
palpability
possibility
probability
readability
reliability
respectability
stability
suitability
teachability
traceability
variability
Related terms
agreeability
availability
avoidability
disability
clusterability
collocability
combinability
countability
crystallizability
editability
enforceability
enjoyability
factorizability
falsifiability
googlability
googleability
governability
impassability
impassibility
installability
investigability
mappability
mouldability
movability
passability
playability
preventability
printability
rapability
rationalizability
recognizability
registerability
removability
repairability
resettability
respectability
scanability
seeability
supportability
togglability
tolerability
treatability
undoability
universalisability
unmappability
usability
washability
wearability
winnability
writability
后缀：-ability [名词后缀]
由-able+-ity而，构成抽象名词，表示“可...性”、“易...性”、“可...”
knowability 可知性
changeability 可变性
readability 可读性
lovability 可爱
usability 可用性，能用
dependability 可靠性
movability 可移动性
preventability 可防止
inflammability 易燃性
adaptability 可适应性
词根词缀：-ability
【来源及含义】Latin: suffix; expressing ability, capacity, fitness, or "that which may be easily handled or managed"
【相关描述】Just a few examples out of hundreds of words presented as the noun forms of -able; forming nouns of quality from, or corresponding to, adjectives in -able; the quality in an agent that makes an action possible. The suffix -ible has related meanings.