different between facet vs ability

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French facette.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fæs?t/
• Rhymes: -æs?t

Noun

facet (plural facets)

1. Any one of the flat surfaces cut into a gem.

2. One among many similar or related, yet still distinct things.

   Synonym: aspect

   The child's learning disability was only one facet of the problems contributing to his delinquency.

3. One of a series of things, such as steps in a project.

   We had just about completed the research facet of the project when the order came to cancel it.

4. (anatomy) One member of a compound eye, as found in insects and crustaceans.
5. (anatomy) A smooth circumscribed surface.

   the articular facet of a bone

6. (anatomy) Any of the small joints at each segment of the spine that provide stability and help guide motion
7. (architecture) The narrow plane surface between flutings of a column.
8. (mathematics) A face of codimension 1 of a polytope.
9. (computing) A criterion that can be used to sort and filter, such as the colour or size of products in an online store.

Derived terms

• multifaceted
• facetal

Translations

Verb

facet (third-person singular simple present facets, present participle faceting or facetting, simple past and past participle faceted or facetted)

1. To cut a facet into a gemstone.

Usage notes

• Faceting and faceted are more common in the US. Facetting and facetted are more common in the UK.

Translations

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from French facette (“facet”), diminutive of face.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fas?t/, [fa?s?d?]

Noun

facet c (singular definite facetten, plural indefinite facetter)

1. facet

Declension

Further reading

• facet on the Danish Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^da
• “facet” in Den Danske Ordbog

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French facette.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fa??s?t/
• Hyphenation: fa?cet
• Rhymes: -?t

Noun

facet n (plural facetten, diminutive facetje n)

1. facet

Derived terms

• facetoog

Descendants

• Afrikaans: faset
• ? Indonesian: faset

Polish

Etymology

From Latin fac?tus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fa.t?s?t/

Noun

facet m pers (diminutive facecik, feminine facetka)

1. (colloquial) guy, fellow, chap

Declension

Further reading

• facet in Wielki s?ownik j?zyka polskiego, Instytut J?zyka Polskiego PAN
• facet in Polish dictionaries at PWN

English

Alternative forms

• abilitie, hability, habilitie (obsolete)

Etymology

First attested in the 1300s. From Middle English abilite (“suitability, aptitude, ability”), from Middle French habilité, from Old French ableté, from Latin habilit?s (“aptness, ability”), from habilis (“apt, fit, skillful, able”), equivalent to able +? -ity.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /??b?l.?.ti/, /??.b?l.?.ti/
• Rhymes: -?l?ti

Noun

ability (countable and uncountable, plural abilities)

1. (obsolete) Suitableness. [Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the late 17^th century.]
2. (uncountable) The quality or state of being able; capacity to do or of doing something; having the necessary power. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]
3. The legal wherewithal to act. [First attested in the mid 17^th century.]
4. (now limited to Scotland dialects) Physical power. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).]
5. (archaic) Financial ability. [First attested in the early 16^th century.]
6. (uncountable) A unique power of the mind; a faculty. [First attested in the late 16 ^th century.]
7. (countable) A skill or competence in doing; mental power; talent; aptitude. [First attested in the early 17 ^th century.]
   • 1769, King James Bible, Acts 11:29

     Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren.

Usage notes

• Ability, capacity : these words come into comparison when applied to the higher intellectual powers.
  • Ability has reference to the active exercise of our faculties. It implies not only native vigor of mind, but that ease and promptitude of execution which arise from mental training. Thus, we speak of the ability with which a book is written, an argument maintained, a negotiation carried on, etc. It always supposes something to be done, and the power of doing it.
  • Capacity has reference to the receptive powers. In its higher exercises it supposes great quickness of apprehension and breadth of intellect, with an uncommon aptitude for acquiring and retaining knowledge. Hence it carries with it the idea of resources and undeveloped power. Thus we speak of the extraordinary capacity of such men as Lord Bacon, Blaise Pascal, and Edmund Burke. "Capacity," says H. Taylor, "is requisite to devise, and ability to execute, a great enterprise."
• The word abilities, in the plural, embraces both these qualities, and denotes high mental endowments.

Synonyms

• (quality or state of being able): capacity, faculty, capability
• (a skill or competence): See Thesaurus:skill
• (high level of skill or capability): talent, cleverness, dexterity, aptitude
• (suitability or receptiveness to be acted upon): capability, faculty, capacity, aptness, aptitude

Antonyms

• inability, unability
• disability

Derived terms

• notability

Related terms

• able

Translations

Further reading

• ability in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• ability in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

References