-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.
traceable (adjective), more traceable, most traceable
1. Able to be sought out or discovered: The detectives hunted for traceable evidence when they searched the house, but they didn't find any!
2. Capable of describing the origin of something: Many of the U.S. Presidents are traceable back to the New England colonists.
2. Capable of describing the origin of something: Many of the U.S. Presidents are traceable back to the New England colonists.
tractable (adjective), more tractable, most tractable
1. Capable of being easily taught, led, or controlled; docile and manageable: Jim's little boy has been a very tractable or obedient child.
2. Etymology: from Latin tractabilis, "that may be touched or handled, workable, tangible, manageable"; from tractare, "to handle, to manage."
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© ALL rights are reserved.
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2. Etymology: from Latin tractabilis, "that may be touched or handled, workable, tangible, manageable"; from tractare, "to handle, to manage."
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transferable (adjective), more transferable, most transferable
Capable of or being able to move someone or something from one place to another one: Helen's more transferable assets, such as her jewelry, were put into the bank vault, and her larger properties were sold at an auction.
translatable (adjective), more translatable, most translatable
1. Possible of being changed or put into another language: Mrs. Smith gave her students easily translatable German texts to work on and reword in English for their homework.
2. Susceptible of being converted or reconstructed into another substance; transformable: The ideas that Jim had could be translatable into a real tangible and useful device, and so he wrote all his ideas down!
2. Susceptible of being converted or reconstructed into another substance; transformable: The ideas that Jim had could be translatable into a real tangible and useful device, and so he wrote all his ideas down!
transpirable (adjective) (not comparable)
Possible to pass through a tissue or other substance: An individual's skin is transpirable in that perspiration can pass through the pores.
The surface of leaves of plants are transpirable and the dew it produces evaporates into the air.
transportable (adjective), more transportable, most transportable
Pertaining to that which is capable of being moved from place to place: The world would be very different if plants that grow or are produced in one place were not transportable.
traversable (adjective), more traversable, most traversable
Suitable to be crossed or passed: The roads across the desert are usually traversable, but not when the winds blow too much sand over them!
The mountain roads in winter are normally not traversable due to large amounts of snow covering them!
treasonable (adjective), more treasonable, most treasonable
Characteristic of something or someone acting in an unfaithful or disloyal manner: Chris's treasonable behavior was described as having written hateful letters telling lies about her best friend.
triturable (adjective), more triturable, most triturable
Relating to something that can be rasped, crushed, or ground into little pieces: During the TV cooking program, the professional cook demonstrated how hard cone sugar could be a very triturable ingredient to use in cakes and cookies.
ultrafashionable (adjective), more ultrafashionable, most ultrafashionable
Exceedingly or exceptionally posh or chic: Wendy never wanted to wear old-fashioned clothes. so she always bought ultrafashionable ones which were all the rage and voguish.
unable (adjective); unabler, more unable; unablest, most unable
1. Lacking the necessary knowledge or skill to accomplish something: Susi was unable to carry the big and heavy box because she was not strong enough.
2. Prone to being feeble or helpless; incapacitated: Jane suddenly felt so sick that she was unable to concentrate on Mrs. Smart's lesson in school.
2. Prone to being feeble or helpless; incapacitated: Jane suddenly felt so sick that she was unable to concentrate on Mrs. Smart's lesson in school.
Old Mrs. MacIntosh had to be in a wheelchair because she was unable to walk anymore.
unacceptable (adjective), more unacceptable, most unacceptable
Liable to be disapproved of and not pleasing or welcome: Jack's behavior in school was so unacceptable, that he was not only sent to the principal's office, but was sent home immediately.
Floyd's handwriting was so unacceptable that Mrs. Thompson couldn't decipher it, so he had to do his homework again under his teacher's supervision.
unaccountable (adjective), more unaccountable, most unaccountable
1. Not answerable or responsible to anyone: He was a salesman who was unaccountable to anyone except the president of the company.
2. Impossible to explain or to give a wherefore for something: Max couldn't think of one
reason why he got such a bad and unaccountable grade on his last test, so he asked his teacher for clarification.
2. Impossible to explain or to give a wherefore for something: Max couldn't think of one
reason why he got such a bad and unaccountable grade on his last test, so he asked his teacher for clarification.
unalienable (adjective), more unalienable, most unalienableCo
Characteristic of not being separated, given away, or taken away: Some unalienable rights of people are liberty, freedom of speech and religion, and the quest for happiness.
unalterably (adverb), more unalterably, most unalterably
A reference to how something is incapable of being changed or modified: There is an unalterabley bitter cold season during a Siberian winter.
