capabilis

Capabilis is a term derived from Latin, used primarily as an adjective meaning "able to be" or "capable of being." It comes from the verb capere, "to seize, take," and the suffix -abilis, which forms adjectives indicating possibility or capacity. In classical and medieval Latin, capabilis functions as a generic descriptor and is reflected in analog forms in modern Romance languages; in English scholarly writing, capabilis is usually encountered as a Latin or Latinized term.

In taxonomy, capabilis most often appears as a species epithet within binomial names, where it is deliberately lower-case and italicized. The exact interpretation depends on the species description published by the author; the epithet may allude to a trait such as ease of capture, manipulability, or another capability attributed to the organism, but the specific meaning should be taken from the original taxonomic source. Capabilis is not known as a widely used standalone genus.

Outside biology, capabilis can appear as a coined name in linguistics, philosophy, or branding, leveraging the general sense of capability. It is not restricted to any single field and may be used to convey a theme of potential or feasibility.

Note: When used in scientific names, the typography follows standard conventions: if capabilis forms part of a species name, it is in lowercase (e.g., Genus capabilis) and italicized; if used as a standalone term in prose, it remains a Latin adjective.

Related terms include capable, capability, and the Latin suffix -abilis used to form adjectives of ability.