enabler

English

Etymology

enable +‎ -er

Noun

enabler (plural enablers)

1. One who or that which helps something to happen.
   • 2007, Andrew Sears, Julie A. Jacko, The Human-Computer Interaction Handbook, page 310:

     The computer is an essential enabler of the conversation.

   • 2021 January 27, Richard Clinnick, “Network News: Electrification can be enabled by Class 810s - EMR”, in RAIL, issue 923, page 12:

     The introduction of 33 bi-mode trains from 2023 will be an enabler for electrification of the Midland Main Line, claims East Midlands Railway Commercial Director Chris Wright.

2. One who encourages a bad habit in another (typically drug addiction) by their behaviour.
   • 2004, Doug Thorburn, How to Spot Hidden Alcoholics, page 34:

     In business, due to the stigma of alcoholism, enablers have their jobs and incomes at stake if their boss's secret is uncovered.

3. One who gives someone else the power to behave in a certain way. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Translations

one who helps something to happen

• Italian: facilitatore m, aiutante (it) m or f
• Portuguese: facilitador m, habilitador m, capacitador m
• Serbo-Croatian: facilitator m, facilitatorica f, omogućavatelj m, omogućavateljica f
• Spanish: facilitador m, habilitador (es) m, capacitador m, asesor (es) m, ayudante (es) m or f, asistente (es) m or f

one who encourages a bad habit in another

• Finnish: mahdollistaja (fi)
• Italian: incoraggiatore m, tentatore (it) m, ammaliatore (it) m, seduttore (it) m, ingannatore (it) m
• Spanish: facilitador m, sonsacador (es) m, alcahuete (es) m or f

one who gives someone else the power to behave in a certain way

• Italian: ammaestratore m
• Serbo-Croatian: omogućavatelj m, omogućavateljica f
• Spanish: autorizador (es) m, habilitador (es) m

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• Interlingua: ^{(please verify)} habilitator, ^{(please verify)} capabilitator

See also

• enabling on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• co-dependence

References

• Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary.

Anagrams

• belearn, renable