enable
/ɪˈneɪb(ə)l
/ /ɛˈneɪb(ə)l/verb [with object]
1 [with infinitive] Give (someone) the authority or means to do something; make it possible for: the evidence would enable us to arrive at firm conclusions...
- She says they are sending her a letter of authority to enable her to accompany the deceased back to China.
- The evidence enables him to describe how individuals and even groups became ensnared.
- Technology is also enabling people with chronic illnesses to remain productive.
Synonyms
authorize, sanction, warrant, license, qualify, allow, permit, entitle, empower, accredit, legalize, validate;
commission, delegate
informal OK, give the OK to, give the green light to, give the thumbs up to
allow, permit, let, give the means to, give the resources to, equip, prepare, facilitate, capacitate, fit
1.1Make (something) possible: each of them has wheels to enable easy transportation the Department is leading the effort to enable a smooth and timely transition...
- Their findings will be available within days enabling the lifebuoy committee to proceed with putting more buoys in place.
- Accounts are expected to be available by next year, enabling a wide range of authorised providers to offer the funds.
- There are also 16 day-places at the hospice, enabling sufferers to chat with people who understand the trauma they are going through.
2chiefly Computing Make (a device or system) operational; activate: you can enable compression or even virus scanning prior to backup...
- Yet service providers are relatively constrained when it comes to enabling Ethernet services.
- The problem was that no one really needed Internet Printing services enabled by default.
- So far as we could gather, the Net service is enabled by default and has to be switched off in BIOS setup.
2.1 (as adjective, in combination -enabled) Adapted for use with the specified application or system: WAP-enabled mobile phones...
- At the moment our exchange is not ADSL enabled, which I find surprising as we're not exactly in the middle of nowhere!
- If your computer is not JavaScript enabled, click the launch link and you will be taken automatically to a version which does not use javascript.
- The service is available to business travellers with wireless Internet enabled laptop computer or PDA.
Derivatives
enablement
- He added that broadband enablement remained a top priority for the telecoms group which launched its Highlands and Islands initiative last week.
- Rather, we are on the cusp of a most exciting and hopeful era, the age of enablement.
- A revolution in communications is happening now. e-Business and Internet enablement are a big part of that revolution, but they're still only a part.
Origin
Late Middle English (formerly also as inable): from en-1, in-2, + able.