-able

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See also able

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[edit] English

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[edit] Etymology

From French -able, from Latin -ābilis.

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Suffix

-able

  1. An adjective suffix, now usually in a passive sense; forms adjectives meaning possible, or fit.
  2. able to be
    movable: able to be moved
    amendable, able to be amended
  3. fit to be
    blamable, fit to be blamed
    salable, fit to be sold
  4. relevant or suitable to, in accordance with
    fashionable
    seasonable
  5. expressing capacity or worthiness in a passive sense
  6. indicating obligation; as in payable, reportable, taxable.

[edit] Usage notes

  • The form -ible has the same senses and pronunciation. The choice between the two is somewhat idiosyncratic, but in general, -ible is used in forms derived from Latin verbs of the second, third, and fourth conjugations, and in a few words whose roots end in a soft c or g, while -able is used in all other such words, particularly those formed from Latin verbs of the first conjugation and those that come from French or from Anglo-Saxon (Old English). Fowler's English Usage recommends using -ible for simplicity's sake in any word whose root ends in a soft c or g (e.g. changible rather than changeable), but this recommendation has generally not been followed.
  • A number of adjectives in -able come from verbs that do not have direct objects, but that rather are construed with prepositions. In these cases, the preposition does not appear with the adjective in -able; hence, reliable (“‘worthy of being relied on’”), laughable (“‘suited for laughing at’”), remarkable (“‘fit to be remarked upon’”), and so on.
  • Traditionally, verbs ending in unstressed -ate drop this suffix before adding -able; hence, communicable (“‘able to be communicated’”), eradicable (“‘possible to eradicate’”), and so on.

[edit] Translations

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[edit] See also

[edit] French

[edit] Etymology

From Latin -ābilis.

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Suffix

-able (plural -ables)

  1. able to be done (similar to English, above)

[edit] Spanish

[edit] Etymology

From Latin -ābilis.

[edit] Suffix

-able (plural -ables)

  1. able to be done (similar to English, above)
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