Both Uses of

enable
in
All the Pretty Horses

Of course the times enabled some of these men to style themselves revolutionaries.†
Chpt 4 *

enabled = made possible

It is the control group which enables the scientist to gauge the effect of his experiment.†
Chpt 4

enables = makes possible

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."