核心畫面

A body that can do the job it is being asked to do: walk, lift, climb, stand a watch. The word is always measured against a task, and against the people for whom that task is closed off.

able-bodied 可以想成「這副身體做得動人家要求的事」。走得了、扛得起、爬得上去。它裡面永遠藏著一個任務,也更多收起able-bodied 可以想成「這副身體做得動人家要求的事」。走得了、扛得起、爬得上去。它裡面永遠藏著一個任務,也藏著一個對照組——那些因為身體限制而做不到的人。所以這個字很少用來誇某個朋友,反而常出現在規定、名冊和公告裡:誰要去清路、誰走樓梯、誰算是合格的船員。

From the word’s history

From able body plus -ed, the same pattern as kind-hearted or long-legged: a person who has such a body.

從 able body(做得動的身體)加 -ed 而來,跟 kind-hearted、long-legged 是同一種造法:「有一副這樣的身體的人」。這個字面意思跟今天的用法幾乎重疊,沒有走遠。

Wiktionary entry for able-bodied (source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:11995946): From able body + -ed.

From the picture

the + 形容詞:一整群人

這一支不是意思變了,是文法把它變成了名詞。同一個形容詞前面加 the,就從「形容一個人」變成「指那一整群人」。

adjective · B2

The able-bodied means people who have no physical disability, spoken about as one whole group. It takes a plural verb.

身體健全的人(全體)

Also in this word

adjective · B2

Physically strong and healthy, with a body that can do what is asked of it — often used when the speaker is comparing such people with people who have a disability.

身體健全的

adjective · C1

Used about a sailor: fully trained and able to do every job on deck. In the Royal Navy it also names a rank, above ordinary and below leading.

(水手)技術合格的