different between sufficient vs capable

English

Alternative forms

• suff. (abbreviation)

Etymology

From Old French sufisanz, soficient, from Latin suffici?ns, present participle of suffici?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s??f???nt/
• Hyphenation: suf?fi?cient
• Rhymes: -???nt

Adjective

sufficient (comparative more sufficient, superlative most sufficient)

1. Equal to the end proposed; adequate to what is needed; enough

   Synonyms: ample, competent

2. Possessing adequate talents or accomplishments; of competent power or ability; qualified; fit.

   A two-week training course is sufficient to get a job in the coach-driving profession.

3. (archaic) Capable of meeting obligations; responsible.
   • 1668, Samuel Pepys, Diary of Samuel Pepys December 23 1668

     ...to take the best ways we can, to make it known to the Duke of York; for, till Sir J. Minnes be removed, and a sufficient man brought into W. Pen's place, when he is gone, it is impossible for this Office ever to support itself.

4. (obsolete) Having enough money to meet obligations and live comfortably.

Antonyms

• insufficient
• nonsufficient
• unsufficient

Derived terms

• self-sufficient
• sufficiency
• sufficiently

Related terms

• suffice

Translations

See also

• adequate
• ample
• enough
• plenty

Determiner

sufficient

1. The smallest amount needed.

   Sufficient of us are against this idea that we should stop now.

Translations

Further reading

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

Latin

Verb

sufficient

1. third-person plural future active indicative of suffici?

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French capable, from Late Latin cap?bilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ke?p?bl?/

Adjective

capable (comparative more capable, superlative most capable)

1. Able and efficient; having the ability needed for a specific task; having the disposition to do something; permitting or being susceptible to something.

2. (obsolete) Of sufficient capacity or size for holding, containing, receiving or taking in; accessible to. Construed with of, for or an infinitive.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:skillful

Antonyms

• incapable

Derived terms

• capability (noun)

Translations

References

• John A. Simpson and Edward S. C. Weiner, editors (1989) , “capable”, in The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, ?ISBN

Anagrams

• pacable

French

Etymology

From Latin capabilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ka.pabl/

Adjective

capable (plural capables)

1. able, capable

See also

• cap'

Further reading

• “capable” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).