Meaning

noun an aptitude that may be developed

noun the quality of being capable -- physically or intellectually or legally

originEtymology tree English capable Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English capableness From capable + -ness.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0