[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/ability.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The Judaism dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/) / ability

[← A](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/A/)

# ability

«ability» in Mova's judaism dictionary: **the power or skill to do something** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

noun (an ability, abilities)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Ability is the power or skill to do something. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ability/#m1)

2) An ability is a special talent, something a person is good at. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ability/#m2)

3) Ability can also mean how well someone can do something, as in «reading ability». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ability/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: In Ezra the returning exiles give gifts "after their ability", meaning as much as each could afford, to rebuild the Temple. Interpretation: The tradition sees this as a model of giving: each person gives according to their means, and all count. In the primary lessons: In school it is used for what pupils can do and how well: «ability to read», «to the best of your ability» (as well as you can). In science it describes what animals and plants can do: the ability to fly, see in the dark or change colour. In everyday life and stories it describes talents and powers, including superheroes' powers. «Disability» is the word for a condition that makes some things harder to do.

### examples

- It tends to be used of things that are marvelous, miraculous, or otherwise supernatural and extraordinary, i.e. that which defies the human ability to do or understand and must therefore be divine, e.g. [Deuteronomy 28:59], [Psalm 118:23], [Psalm 139:6]. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ability/#x1)
- they gave after their ability into the treasury of the work threescore and one thousand darics of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests' tunics. (Writings EZR.2.69, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ability/#x2)
- Bats have the ability to find their way in the dark. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ability/#x3)
- She has a great ability to make people laugh. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ability/#x4)
- Do the test to the best of your ability. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ability/#x5)
- The ability to swim can save your life. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ability/#x6)
- Each superhero has a different special ability. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ability/#x7)
- Practice will improve your reading ability. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ability/#x8)
- Chameleons have the ability to change colour. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ability/#x9)
- Grateful for these favours, the animals determined to repay him to the best of their ability. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ability/#x10)

### note

Countable noun: an ability, many abilities. Followed by «to + verb»: «the ability to swim» (not «ability of swimming»). Opposite: inability. Adjective: able. Do not confuse with «capacity» (how much something can hold).

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «ability» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/ability/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.