comestible

English

Etymology

From Middle French comestible, or its source, Late Latin comestibilis, from Latin comedō (“I eat”), from com- (English com-) + edō (“I eat”) (as in English edible), from Proto-Indo-European (whence also English eat).

Attested as adjective in late 15th century, from Middle French, but fell from use in the 17th century, thence reintroduced from Modern French in 19th century.

Corresponding terms in various Romance languages, more distant cognates include Portuguese and Spanish comida.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /kəˈmɛstɪb(ə)l/

Adjective

comestible (comparative more comestible, superlative most comestible)

1. Suitable to be eaten; edible. [from 15th c.]

Usage notes

Relatively formal; edible is the usual term, while eatable is rather informal.

Synonyms

• edible
• eatable

Coordinate terms

• drinkable, potable

Translations

suitable to be eaten; edible

Bulgarian: ядлив (bg) Czech: jedlý (cs), poživatelný (cs)

Greek: φαγώσιμος (el) (fagósimos) m. Turkish: yenebilir, yenilebilir

Noun

comestible (plural comestibles)

1. (chiefly in the plural) Anything that can be eaten; food. [from 19th c.]
   • 1910, Frank Richards, The Greyfriar's Picnic:

     Comestibles of all sorts came to view, and a smell of cooking spread itself among the trees.

Usage notes

Rather formal; the simple term food is far more common. By contrast beverage is used rather commonly as a formal equivalent of drink. In both these cases, the more elevated term (comestible, beverage) is of French origin, while the plain term (food, drink) is of Old English origin, and this stylistic difference by origin is common; see list of English words with dual French and Anglo-Saxon variations.

Synonyms

• foodstuff, sustenance, victuals
• See also food: synonyms

Coordinate terms

• beverage

Translations

anything that can be eaten; food

Bulgarian: храна (bg) f., хранителни продукти (bg) pl. Czech: jídlo (cs) n., poživatina (cs) f.

Greek: φαγώσιμο (el) (fagósimo) n. Volapük: fidadin (vo)

---

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin comestibilis.

Adjective

comestible m. and f. (plural comestibles)

1. comestible

---

French

Adjective

comestible (epicene, plural comestibles)

1. comestible

---

Spanish

Adjective

comestible m. and f. (plural comestibles)

1. comestible

Noun

comestible m. (plural comestibles)

1. comestible