5 uses
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Definition
to make possible
in various senses, including:
- to give someone the ability, knowledge, or authority to do something — as in "The study will enable an informed discussion."
- to activate a computer system for use — as in "You can enable the feature in the Settings Page."
- to permit someone to repeat bad behavior, so they reinforce the bad pattern — as in "I don't want to enable her drug addiction."
- These virtues awakened Confidence, and enabled you to handle Bigger Propositions.Chapter 4 (37% in)
- It made him feel superior; it enabled him to sneer privily at the Martin Lumsen development, Avonlea, which had a cesspool; and it provided a chorus for the full-page advertisements in which he announced the beauty, convenience, cheapness, and supererogatory healthfulness of Glen Oriole.Chapter 4 (59% in)
- Anyway, I don't keep a car just to enable you children to look like millionaires!Chapter 6 (28% in)
- Babbitt was again without a canon which would enable him to speak with authority.Chapter 6 (52% in)
- These authors—and he supposed they were famous ones, too—did not seem to care about telling a good story which would enable a fellow to forget his troubles.Chapter 23 (13% in)
There are no more uses of "enable" in Babbitt.
Typical Usage
(best examples)