-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.
learnable (adjective), more learnable, most learnable
A reference to achieving abilities and awareness by having a variety of encounters: The students have more learnable skills since they have worked together on several related projects.
liable (adjective), more liable, most liable
1. A reference to being legally obligated or responsible: Mr. Smith was liable for paying taxes on the income he received from his investment.
2. Related to being at risk of or subject to experiencing or suffering something unpleasant: Because of his family's health history, Brian is liable of having dementia when he is old.
3. Descriptive of being used as an unfavorable outcome: In such weather, transportation is liable to be delayed.
4. Etymology: "bound or obliged by law", from Anglo-French liable, from Old French lier, "to bind"; from Latin ligare, "to bind, to tie".
2. Related to being at risk of or subject to experiencing or suffering something unpleasant: Because of his family's health history, Brian is liable of having dementia when he is old.
3. Descriptive of being used as an unfavorable outcome: In such weather, transportation is liable to be delayed.
4. Etymology: "bound or obliged by law", from Anglo-French liable, from Old French lier, "to bind"; from Latin ligare, "to bind, to tie".
liable, libel, libel, slander
liable (LIGH uh buhl) (adjective)
1. Concerning someone who is at risk for an accident: Janet warned, "Luis, be careful on the ladder because you are liable to fall."
2. Describing a person who is legally responsible for something: Jack said, "Ronda, you are liable for the repayment of your bank loan."
3. Bound or obliged in law or equity; responsible; chargeable; answerable; compelled to make satisfaction, compensation, or restitution: Borrowers are liable for the repayment for any loans they make with financial institutions.
2. Describing a person who is legally responsible for something: Jack said, "Ronda, you are liable for the repayment of your bank loan."
3. Bound or obliged in law or equity; responsible; chargeable; answerable; compelled to make satisfaction, compensation, or restitution: Borrowers are liable for the repayment for any loans they make with financial institutions.
The husband and wife were told that they were liable for their debts to the store.
libel (LIGH buhl) (noun)
A written or oral statement that expresses an unjust impression: The angry article in the newspaper appeared almost to be avowals of libel.
libel (LIGH buhl) (verb)
To utter or publish slanderous, treasonable, or obscene statements about someone: The defeated candidate tried to libel his opponents after the election.
slander (SLAN duhr) (noun)
An oral statement that defames another person's reputation; an accusation: It is inappropriate to utter such slander about a neighbor.
Bryan lost his job on the basis of slander brought against him by a fellow worker.
The foreman was informed that he would be liable for any damage that was done to the reputation of the factory as the result of any libel or slander that was spread during the strike.
limitable (adjective), more limitable, most limitable
Possible of being curtailed or reduced in quantity or extent: The number of people allowed to enter the national park is limitable and controlled depending on the time of year.
magnifiable (adjective), more magnifiable, most magnifiable
Descriptive of being increased in size or being bigger or greater: Jack and his family have magnifiable health problems because of the unsanitary living conditions in which they live.
Helen's successful handling of the business assignment that her supervisor gave her has made her salary increase more magnifiable than it did before.
maintainable (adjective), more maintainable, most maintainable
Referring to being sustained, upheld, or kept up: Fortunately, the amount of garden work for Janet was maintainable because it was necessary in order to have her yard looking nice and tidy.
malaxable (adjective), more malaxable, most malaxable
Able to be softened: The dough was malaxable after adding the butter and the eggs, and it became easier to prepare for making the cookies.
malleable (adjective), more malleable, most malleable
1. Pertaining to something that is capable of being shaped by being beaten or by pressure as with certain metals, such as silver: Ancient civilizations found gold to be malleable and often formed it into intricate figures, and even today gold is a very
malleable metal and can be molded by pressure.
2. Descriptive of a metal having been beaten out into a thin plate: The antique tray receptacle in the museum appeared to be a piece of malleable silver.
3. Characterizing a person or something that can be influenced, adapted or fashioned to situations or mental challenges: As a teacher, Hans was always amazed at the malleable minds and personalities of his students.
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2. Descriptive of a metal having been beaten out into a thin plate: The antique tray receptacle in the museum appeared to be a piece of malleable silver.
3. Characterizing a person or something that can be influenced, adapted or fashioned to situations or mental challenges: As a teacher, Hans was always amazed at the malleable minds and personalities of his students.
The teachers were striving to develop a malleable plan that would serve to develop the "malleability" of the minds of their pupils.
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manageably (adverb), more manageably, most manageably
Regarding how a person or something can be controlled or dealt with: Gary told his son that the problems he had in school were manageably possible to solve and improve if he paid more attention to his schoolwork instead of playing games on his computer so often.
marketable (adjective), more marketable, most marketable
1. Regarding saleable goods or employability of people: James always took courses in the use of the computer and internet in order to keep his skills in this area up-to-date and marketable for a future position in a company.
2. Descriptive of something offered for sale: When Susan went to the shops, she noticed that they had a lot of interesting and attractive marketable produce, like fruit, meat, cheeses, flowers, and honey!
2. Descriptive of something offered for sale: When Susan went to the shops, she noticed that they had a lot of interesting and attractive marketable produce, like fruit, meat, cheeses, flowers, and honey!
masticable (adjective), more masticable, most masticable
Characteristic of anything which can be chewed before swallowing it: Joan found the piece of meat masticable, although she her jaws hurt after biting and munching on it for a while!
measurable (adjective), more measurable, most measurable
1. Suitable to be assessed or quantify: The amount of fabric needed was measuarable because the saleslady had a long narrow strip of cloth marked with inches to calculate the length of fabric the customer wanted.
2. Capable of being significant or perceptible: Little Susi showed a measurable and distinct improvement with her reading skills.
2. Capable of being significant or perceptible: Little Susi showed a measurable and distinct improvement with her reading skills.
medicable (adjective), more medicable, most medicable
A reference to that which can be healed: A medicable treatment has a reasonable expectation of being cured.
meliorable (adjective), more meliorable, most meliorable
Disposed to making better; improvable: Reading skills are considered meliorable depending on how much is read out load!
memorable (adjective), more memorable, most memorable
Worthy of being remembered, particularly because of being unusual or special; notable: Alice and Floyd will never forget the memorable day when they got married by the lake during that long summer.
