# ability (capacity)

a capacity to do something that results from having enough energy and a regular pattern of process.

- Computed level: L19 (depth in the emergence graph, not abstraction)
- Status: review  ·  Domain: daily  ·  Arena: ability

## Emergence
**Emerges from:** [energy](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-energy.capacity), [regular](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-regular.frequency), [process](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-process.general), [capacity](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-capacity.size), [enough](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-enough.sufficient), [pattern](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-pattern.regularity), [potential](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-potential.capacity), [results](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-results.outcome)

**Through:** energy and a regular pattern of process combine to create a capacity to do something.

**Novel properties:**
- sustained potential
- structured readiness
- effective threshold

## Examples
- A hummingbird hovers at 50 wingbeats per second, sustained by rapid nectar metabolism. *(biology)*
- The International Space Station maintains orbital position through periodic thruster burns. *(engineering)*
- Wikipedia edits by volunteer users keep article accuracy stable across millions of entries. *(institutions)*

## Used by
- [able](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-able.capacity) (L20)
- [agency](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-agency.capacity) (L20)
- [cognitive](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-cognitive.mental) (L20)
- [memory](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-memory.cognitive) (L20)
- [skill](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-skill.ability) (L20)

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*Canonical: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-ability.capacity*  
*Structured data: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-ability.capacity.json*  
*Every definition provably resolves to space, time, energy and pattern.*