-able
(Latin: a 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.
venerable (adjective), more venerable, most venerable
1. Regarding a person who is highly respected by virtue of age, dignity, character, or position: A venerable member of Congress is an individual who is worthy of being well received and highly thought of.
2. Worthy of reverence, especially by religious or historical association: There were many venerable and antiquated relics to be seen in the church around the corner.
3. Referring to places, buildings, etc.; hallowed by religious, historic, or other lofty associations: On the tour of the abbey, June admired the venerable halls which were full of bygone days and brimming with tales of fate.
4. Venerable, abbreviated, Ven. or V., in the Roman Catholic Church and used as a form of address for an individual who has reached the first stage of canonization: Bishop Fulton J. Sheen and Princess Louise of France are two examples of Venerables.
5. Pertaining to a form of address for an archdeacon in the Anglican Church or the Episcopal Church: The venerable ecclesiastical dignitary had been assigned the lowest degrees of acknowledgement for sanctitude.
6. Impressive or interesting because of age, antique appearance, etc.: The old and venerable grandfather clock stood at a special spot in the living room.
2. Worthy of reverence, especially by religious or historical association: There were many venerable and antiquated relics to be seen in the church around the corner.
3. Referring to places, buildings, etc.; hallowed by religious, historic, or other lofty associations: On the tour of the abbey, June admired the venerable halls which were full of bygone days and brimming with tales of fate.
4. Venerable, abbreviated, Ven. or V., in the Roman Catholic Church and used as a form of address for an individual who has reached the first stage of canonization: Bishop Fulton J. Sheen and Princess Louise of France are two examples of Venerables.
5. Pertaining to a form of address for an archdeacon in the Anglican Church or the Episcopal Church: The venerable ecclesiastical dignitary had been assigned the lowest degrees of acknowledgement for sanctitude.
6. Impressive or interesting because of age, antique appearance, etc.: The old and venerable grandfather clock stood at a special spot in the living room.
There was a venerable oak tree in the family's garden.
7. Extremely old or obsolete or ancient: Thomas remembered that there was a venerable and timeworn house which had been taken down many, many years ago.
ventilable (adjective) (not comparable)
1. Regarding the condition of being aerated or refreshed: Because the home had large windows, it was easily ventilable during the hot summer months.
2. Concerning the possibility of talking about feelings or ideas openly: After the funeral, the family and friends had ventilable thoughts, memories, and emotions that they needed to share with each other.
2. Concerning the possibility of talking about feelings or ideas openly: After the funeral, the family and friends had ventilable thoughts, memories, and emotions that they needed to share with each other.
verbalizable (adjective) (not comparable)
Capable of being expressed in words, particularly out loud; able to be articulated: The group of mourners had feelings that were verbalizable, but they didn't want to communicate them while the reporter was present.
verifiable (adjective), more verifiable, most verifiable
1. Capable of being confirmed; provable: The verifiable and attestable document was accepted by the officials.
2. Susceptible to being tested by observation or experimentation: The demonstrations the students prepared for the biology class were verifiable, because they were all proven to have the exact same results.
2. Susceptible to being tested by observation or experimentation: The demonstrations the students prepared for the biology class were verifiable, because they were all proven to have the exact same results.
veritable (adjective), more veritable, most veritable
1. Descriptive of something that is true or genuine: The veritable information was presented in the court case.
2. Used as an intensifier regarding someone or something: At last Tom's team reached the veritable peak of success by wining the last baseball match of the season
2. Used as an intensifier regarding someone or something: At last Tom's team reached the veritable peak of success by wining the last baseball match of the season
viable (adjective), more viable, most viable
1. Capable of life: A viable premature baby is one who is able to survive outside the womb.
2. Able to maintain an independent existence or able to live and develop: The viable seedlings were sown in the garden and were soon growing into big zucchini plants.
3. Eligible of success, or continuing effectiveness; practicable: The bank said that the plan for starting John's business was viable and could be carried out successfully.
2. Able to maintain an independent existence or able to live and develop: The viable seedlings were sown in the garden and were soon growing into big zucchini plants.
3. Eligible of success, or continuing effectiveness; practicable: The bank said that the plan for starting John's business was viable and could be carried out successfully.
Viable was originally restricted to the senses of "able to grow" and "able to survive", as in a viable fetus.
Its extended sense of "able to be done" or "worth doing", as in "viable alternatives", is now well established and acceptable in the English language.
victimizable (adjective), more victimizable, most victimizable
1. A reference to a person who can be defrauded, swindled, or made into a dupe and cheated: The new boy at school seemed to be victimizable because he was taken advantage of and tricked by the big, strong, and mean boys in his class.
2. A descriptive term referring to someone who can be injured or killed: The family traveling by car in the heavy snowstorm was in great danger and victimizable due to driving off the road and crashing into a tree.
2. A descriptive term referring to someone who can be injured or killed: The family traveling by car in the heavy snowstorm was in great danger and victimizable due to driving off the road and crashing into a tree.
violable (adjective), more violable, most violable
1. Liable to be ignored or disobeyed: Some of school rules were evidently violable due to many of the students hitting other children on the school grounds.
2. Prone to be broken or injured: The antique and very thin cup and saucer were quite violable, so Mrs. Scott put them into the cupboard to keep them from being cracked or smashed to bits!
2. Prone to be broken or injured: The antique and very thin cup and saucer were quite violable, so Mrs. Scott put them into the cupboard to keep them from being cracked or smashed to bits!
vitrifiable (adjective) (not comparable)
Capable of being converted into glass by heat and fusion: Flint and alkaline salts are vitrifiable, or "vitrificable", which is the obsolete form of the term.
vituperable (adjective), more vituperable, most vituperable
Blameworthy, or deserving severe censure or blame: Driving through a red light at the intersection was a vituperable action and deserved the ticket that was issued by the police officer.
vocable (adjective) (not comparable)
Able to be pronounced or spoken: A vocable expression can be uttered with different sounds without necessarily regarding its meaning.
voidable (adjective), more voidable, most voidable
1. Able to be annulled or invalidated: James was surprised that the contracts were voidable and could be revoked.
2. In law, capable of being made or adjudged to be no longer legally binding: A marriage can be voidable when two people have never lived together and have not had any relationship with other.
2. In law, capable of being made or adjudged to be no longer legally binding: A marriage can be voidable when two people have never lived together and have not had any relationship with other.
vulnerable (adjective), more vulnerable, most vulnerable
1. A reference to being open to physical or emotional harm; easily hurt, easily wounded: Jackie was quite vulnerable and broke out in tears when friends would mention her late husband who died just a few weeks before.
2. Relating to being unable to resist illness, debility, or physical failure because of physical or psychological weakness: There are some vulnerable people in danger of getting the influenza because they have not yet been inoculated for the disease.
3. Open to censure or criticism; assailable: Hank's sister has always been vulnerable to criticism.
4. Capable of being exposed to a military attack or possible damage: While James was in the army and he and his fellow soldiers were in a vulnerable position, they were able to survive an onslaught by enemy forces.
5. Etymology: from Late Latin vulnerabilis, "wounding"; from Latin vulnerare, "to wound"; from vulnus, vulneris, "wound".
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2. Relating to being unable to resist illness, debility, or physical failure because of physical or psychological weakness: There are some vulnerable people in danger of getting the influenza because they have not yet been inoculated for the disease.
3. Open to censure or criticism; assailable: Hank's sister has always been vulnerable to criticism.
4. Capable of being exposed to a military attack or possible damage: While James was in the army and he and his fellow soldiers were in a vulnerable position, they were able to survive an onslaught by enemy forces.
5. Etymology: from Late Latin vulnerabilis, "wounding"; from Latin vulnerare, "to wound"; from vulnus, vulneris, "wound".
