December 10, 2016　    =========

☆  enable  可能にする

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If someone enables you to do something, they give you the opportunity to do it. For example:
The new test should enable doctors to detect the disease early.
We have a new training program to enable new recruits to make the most of their potential.

As you can see, to enable someone to do something, or to enable something to happen is a positive thing, right? However, recently, this word has been used by doctors and psychologists to been used to describe negative behavior. When someone tries to help another person, who has a problem such as gambling or alcoholism, they may just enable the situation to continue. For example, giving money to a gambler is enabling them to gamble. Making excuses for someone who drinks too much is enabling them to continue drinking. Is enable used in this way in Japanese, too?

Bye,

Chris