I.that may be easily handled or managed, manageable, suitable, fit, proper, apt, expert, light, nimble, swift (class.).
I. Lit.: “(calcei) habiles et apti ad pedem,” Cic. de Or. 1, 54, 231; cf.: “(natura homini) figuram corporis habilem et aptam ingenio humano dedit,” id. Leg. 1, 9, 26; “res aptae, habiles et ad naturam accommodatae,” id. Fin. 4, 20, 56: “brevitate habiles gladii,” Liv. 22, 46, 5: “ensis,” Verg. A. 9, 305: “arcus,” id. ib. 1, 318: “pharetra ad tela,” Val. Fl. 3, 607: “frameae,” Tac. G. 6: “currus,” Ov. M. 2, 531: “aratrum,” Tib. 1, 9, 7: “naves velis,” Tac. A. 2, 6: “corpus habilissimum quadratum est, neque gracile neque obesum,” the most convenient for managing, treating, Cels. 2, 1; cf.: “materia levis est et ad hoc habilis,” Sen. Q. N. 1, 7: “atque habilis membris venit vigor,” i. e. making supple, Verg. G. 4, 418: “(bos) nec feturae habilis nec fortis aratris,” fit, proper for, id. ib. 3, 62: “terra frumentis,” Col. 2, 2, 20; cf.: “Aegyptum ut feraciorem habilioremque annonae urbicae redderet,” Suet. Aug. 18: “pinguibus hae (vites) terris habiles, levioribus illae,” Verg. G. 2, 92: “rudem ad pedestria bella Numidarum gentem esse, equis tantum habilem,” Liv. 24, 48, 5; cf.: “ducenta fere milia peditum, armis habilia,” able to bear arms, Vell. 2, 110, 3: “nondum portandis habiles gravioribus armis,” Sil. 11, 588.—
II. Trop.: sunt quidam ita in iisdem rebus habiles, ita naturae muneribus ornati, ut, etc., apt, expert, skilful (= capax), Cic. de Or. 1, 25, 115: “acutior atque habilior ad inveniendum,” Quint. 6, 3, 12: “numquam ingenium idem ad res diversissimas habilius fuit,” Liv. 21, 4, 3: “exercitus non habilis gubernaculo,” not easy to govern, Vell. 2, 113, 2: negotia expedita et habilia sequuntur actorem, Sen. de Ira, 3, 7: et vicina seni non habilis Lyco, not suited (on account of her age), Hor. C. 3, 19, 24: “non habiles Colchi,” i. e. uncivilized, rude, Val. Fl. 7, 231.—
(β).
Poet., with inf.: “plaudentique habiles Caryae resonare Dianae,” Stat. Th. 4, 225; Luc. 3, 553.—Hence, adv.: hăbĭlĭter , handily, aptly, expertly, skilfully, easily (very rare): “scutum parvum habiliter ferens,” Liv. Epit. 57: “ut elephantis, sicut nos equis, facile atque habiliter utantur,” Mel. 3, 7; Dig. 34, 2, 20.
