Can you help me with these similar words?

[dilodi83]

Yesterday I did an exercise where I had to choose the most appropriate word among three words that were written and I have some doubts about 2 sentences in particular.

1) From that time onwards until his premature death sixteen years later, he.................(completely/fully/throughly) disappeared from actival musical life.

2) Precociously gifted, he was .....................(capable/able) to study in Germany thanks to a wealthy patron.

In the first one I wrote "throughly" and then I saw the correct answer is "completely", but my question is this: Do not they all mean the same thing? Can you explain the differences among "completely, fully and throughly"?

In the second, I wrote "able" and I noticed it is correct, but, why "capable" would be incorrect? What's the difference in meaning between them?

Thanks so much in advance.

[Soup]

Hello dilodi83,

I can answer your second question.


2) Precociously gifted, he was ___________to study in Germany thanks to a wealthy patron.

2a) capable of: he was capable of studying

Note, capable of, not capable to

• meaning, he had the skill/ability to study

2b) able: he was able to study

• meaning, he was given an opportunity

[dilodi83]

Thank you very much for your explanation....
What about the first question?

[Soup]

In answer to your first question, completely means totally, whereas fully and thoroughly mean complete in every detail.


1) ..., he________disappeared.

1a) completely (meaning, totally)
2b) thoroughly
2c) fully