-ability
(Latin: suffix; expressing ability, capacity, fitness, or "that which may be easily handled or managed")
Just a few examples out of hundreds of words presented as the noun forms of -able; forming nouns of quality from, or corresponding to, adjectives in -able; the quality in an agent that makes an action possible. The suffix -ible has related meanings.
The situation of being liable to prosecution; indictability: Because her misconduct in office was proven on many points, she did not resist such an impeachability taking place in the near future.
impeccable (im PEK uh b'l) (adjective), more impeccable, most impeccable
1. Descriptive of something so perfect or flawless as to be beyond criticism: Sam had an impeccable record as a reliable mail carrier in Helena's neighborhood.
2. Concerning something or someone being without faults or errors: Dr. Brown’s reputation as an impeccable physician makes him a desirable consultant for other medical doctors.
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2. Concerning something or someone being without faults or errors: Dr. Brown’s reputation as an impeccable physician makes him a desirable consultant for other medical doctors.
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1. The quality or condition of being invincible or impossible to defeat or to destroy: As a boxer, Edward utilized his impregnability and so he was too powerful to be overcome by his opponents.
2. Etymology: from Middle French imprenable; im-, "not", + prendre, "to take" + -able, "able to be the object of an action".
2. Etymology: from Middle French imprenable; im-, "not", + prendre, "to take" + -able, "able to be the object of an action".
1. Not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred; unlikelihood: The account James told us was so suspicious and unbelievable that the improbability of his story was concluded instead!
2. Something doubtful, dubious, questionable, or unlikely: Catching the flu makes you feel terrible and also makes it a real improbability to laugh or even smile!
2. Something doubtful, dubious, questionable, or unlikely: Catching the flu makes you feel terrible and also makes it a real improbability to laugh or even smile!
1. A lack of capacity or means to do something: Grandmother was blind and therefore had the inability to see.
2. Absence of enough power, capacity or resources: Although Tim had been in school for many years, he still had the inability to read up to grade level.
2. Absence of enough power, capacity or resources: Although Tim had been in school for many years, he still had the inability to read up to grade level.
The incapability of something being repudiated or conveyed to another person; not subject to forfeiture: The deprivation of freedom is an infraction and breach of the inalienability of human rights.
inalterable (adjective), more inalterable, most inalterable
Relating to anything that is not possible to change or to modify: History is inalterable since it has already passed and cannot be replaced or remodelled!
The death of an individual is an inalterable fact that cannot be reversed.
The character of being unthinkable; the incapability of being thought: The tragic accident of Jenifer's mother produced an incogitability and powerlessness for Jenifer even to envisage and turn it over in her mind.
1. The condition in which a healing is impossible; irrecoverability: The patient suffered from an incurable and remediless disease.
2. Incapability of being altered, as in disposition or habits: The incurability of Ginnie's incorrigible weakness and foible of stopping at every bookstore to browse through the newest editions of her favorite author was not to be altered!
2. Incapability of being altered, as in disposition or habits: The incurability of Ginnie's incorrigible weakness and foible of stopping at every bookstore to browse through the newest editions of her favorite author was not to be altered!
ineffable (adjective) (not comparable)
1. Characterizing an incapability of expressing one's feelings in words: After Leticia recovered from her coma, she felt ineffable happiness when she saw her children again.
2. Relating to something that is so great that it can't be verbally communicated or described: When Caleb won the singing contest, he was overcome with ineffable joy and excitement.
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© ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
2. Relating to something that is so great that it can't be verbally communicated or described: When Caleb won the singing contest, he was overcome with ineffable joy and excitement.
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Incapability of being evaded; inescapability; inevitability: The ineluctability of death is considered by many to be an unavoidable destiny.
Something that is certain to happen and cannot be prevented: It is certainly an inevitability that the sun will rise every morning even if you cannot see it because it is hiding behind clouds!
1. The situation of being easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly: Because of the inflammability of the liquids stored in the garage, they were removed quickly before any fire could start.
2. Quick or easy arousal to a strong emotion; excitability: The inflammability in Jim's temperament was evident when he felt that he was accused of something he did not do or say at all!
2. Quick or easy arousal to a strong emotion; excitability: The inflammability in Jim's temperament was evident when he felt that he was accused of something he did not do or say at all!
Historically, "flammable" and "inflammable" mean the same thing, however the presence of the prefix "in-" has misled many people into assuming that inflammable means "not flammable" or "noncombustible".
The prefix "in-" as used in inflammable is not, however, the Latin negative prefix "in-" which is related to the English "un-" and that appears in such words as "indecent" and "inglorious".
The "in-" used in inflammability is an intensive prefix derived from the Latin preposition "in". This prefix also appears in the word "enflame", but many people are not aware of this derivation, and for clarity's sake it is advisable to use only flammable to give warnings.
1. The quality of being liveable: The inhabitability of the North Pole is not given for the existence of cacti.
2. The capability of being present in something: The attic at Joan's house provided the inhabitability of storing many old books and trunks full of memories of the family.
2. The capability of being present in something: The attic at Joan's house provided the inhabitability of storing many old books and trunks full of memories of the family.
Capable of introducing a microorganism into an animal or a person: There have been a variety of discussions regarding inoculability, especially about the protection given by flu vaccinations.
