-able

(Latin: suffix; expressing capacity, fitness to do that which can be handled or managed, suitable skills to accomplish something; capable of being done, something which can be finished, etc.)

A suffix that forms adjectives. The suffix -ible has related meanings; expressing ability, capacity, fitness; capable of, fit for, able to be done, can be done, inclined to, tending to, given to.

This list is only a small sample of the thousands of -able words that exist in English.

abdicable (adjective)
That which can be discarded, renounced, or relinquished: "Gina's abdicable responsibilities had been an excessive burden for her; so, she had no regrets when she abdicated her position as manager of the two stores."
able (adjective)
1. Having enough power, skill, or means to do something; capable: "A cat is able to see in the dark."
2. Having more power or skill than usual; skillful: "She was an able teacher for more than 40 years."

"He turned out to be an able editor of the newspaper while his wife turned out to be one of the most able lawyers in her firm."

3. Expertly done; effective: "He presented an able speech even though he had just a few minutes to prepare for it."
4. Etymology: from Old French (h)able, from Latin habilis, "easily handled, apt", from habere, "to hold". "Easy to be held"; hence, "fit for a purpose".

The silent h- was dropped in English and resisted academic attempts to restore it in the 16th and 17th centuries, but some derivatives acquired the "h"; such as, with "habiliment" and "habilitate".

-able (uh buhl; depending on word to which it is attached)
A suffix that forms adjectives from verbs and nouns.
1. That which can be — ed: Enjoyable = that which can be enjoyed.
2. Giving —; suitable for —: Comfortable = giving comfort.
3. Inclined to — ed: Peaceable = inclined to peace.
4. Deserving to be — ed: Lovable = deserving to be loved.
5. Liable to be — ed: Breakable = liable to be broken.
abolishable (adjective)
That which can be done away with wholly or made void; such as, the end a law, a system, a custom, or an institution: "Congress determined that the abolishable law should be terminated now."

"The antiquated system of managing public transportation is an abolishable system so it should be replaced."

abominable (adjective)
1. Loathsome, extremely repugnant, or offensive: "Murder is certainly the most abominable crime in existence."

"Nathan had the abominable habit of chewing his fingernails in public."

2. Extremely unpleasant or of very bad quality, or very unpleasant to experience: "The abominable food that was served in that restaurant tasted terrible and you can be sure that we will never go there again."
3. A bad omen; nasty and disgusting; vile; loathsome: "The flood included abominable sewerage that was flowing into the basements and ground-floor rooms of the houses."
Word History

Between the 14th and the 17th centuries, abominable was often spelled abhominable, because of a widely held belief that it was derived from Latin ab hominem; literally, "away from humankind", therefore "unnatural, beastly". Shakespeare puns on this sense when Hamlet speaks of incompetent actors who "imitate humanity abominably."

—Compiled from information located in the
Encarta World English Dictionary; St. Martins Press;
New York; 1999; page 4.
abradable (adjective)
1. Capable of wearing down or rubbing away by friction; able to erode.
2. Able to make weary through constant irritation; to wear down spiritually.
acceptable (adjective)
accountable (adjective)
1. Subject to the obligation to report, to explain, or to justify something; being responsible; answerable.
2. Capable of being explained; explicable; explainable.
accusable (adjective)
acidifiable (adjective)
Capable of being converted into, or of combining so as to form, an acid.
acquaintable (adjective)
Easy to be acquainted with; affable.
acquirable (adjective)
adaptable (adjective)
adjustable (adjective)
1. That which can be changed in shape, size, or position according to what is wanted or needed.
2. The ability to adapt or to conform to a situation; such as, as to new conditions or a different environment.
3. Capable of being modified; such as, adjustable seat belts.
4. Regarding loans, mortgages, etc.; having a flexible rate, as one based on money market interest rates or on the rate of inflation or cost of living.
admirable, more admirable, most admirable (adjective forms)
1. Deserving of the highest esteem or respect: "Dependableness was his most admirable quality."
2. Inspiring approval and admiration: "The TV documentary did a more admirable job of showing what actually happened then the government reports did."