-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.
damageable (adjective), more damageable, most damageable
1. Susceptible of wreckage or of being broken: The precious glasses in the box are damageable unless they are carefully wrapped.
2. Capable of being pernicious or harmful: The comments the boy next-door made were damageable and hurtful when he saw Jane's old hand-me-down bike.
2. Capable of being pernicious or harmful: The comments the boy next-door made were damageable and hurtful when he saw Jane's old hand-me-down bike.
damnable (adjective), more damnable, most damnable
1, Extraordinarily bad or infuriating; abominable; detestable: Mary's father described the weather as being damnable, because he couldn't go swimming in the lake or even sun bathe!
2. Capable of being accursed or unredeemed: Some people believe that those who have committed a damnable crime will be punished eternally in Hell.
2. Capable of being accursed or unredeemed: Some people believe that those who have committed a damnable crime will be punished eternally in Hell.
debatable (adjective), more debatable, most debatable
1. Regarding something that may, or may not be, true or real: Whether the politician's report is accurate is most debatable.
2. Referring to something which is liable to be questioned or disputed: It's debatable whether this tax cut is actually a benefit to very many people.
2. Referring to something which is liable to be questioned or disputed: It's debatable whether this tax cut is actually a benefit to very many people.
decasyllable (noun), decasyllables (pl)
A poetic line of verse of 10 language units larger than a phoneme: Serbian epic poetry is usually sung in decasyllables and accompanied by the gusle, a single-stringed musical instrument.
deceivable (adjective), more deceivable, most deceivable
Inclined to being false or misleading: Linda thought Tom was truly a deceivable creature and she hated him because he was so deceitful and deluding.
definable (adjective), more definable, most definable
Descriptive of something that can be explained, rationalized, or made clear: "Don't throw rocks" is a more definable explanation for a child than a long discourse about being kind and not hurting other people.
deflagrable (adjective), more deflagrable, most deflagrable
1. Descriptive of the capability of bursting into flames quickly: The wood that Jeff wanted to use in his fireplace was very deflagrable and burned with a sudden combustion and so it was slightly explosive.
2. Characterizing something that is liable to snap and crackle when heated: In his chemistry class at school, James found out that salt was quite deflagrable, because when it was heated, it produced popping and bursting sounds.
2. Characterizing something that is liable to snap and crackle when heated: In his chemistry class at school, James found out that salt was quite deflagrable, because when it was heated, it produced popping and bursting sounds.
deflect (verb), deflects; deflected; deflecting
1. To change course because of hitting something, or change something's course by coming into contact with it: The golf ball was deflected from its direction towards the hole by suddenly swerving to the side of it!
2. To turn aside or cause to turn aside; to bend or to deviate: Jim was able to deflect being hit by the ball by moving quickly to the side.
3. To direct a person's attention or criticism away from a subject or issue to something else: Patty tried to deflect her friend from noticing the pimple on her nose by wearing her prettiest dress.
4. To force someone to change what he or she is doing or planning to do: The fire deflected the new owners from moving into their newly-built home.
2. To turn aside or cause to turn aside; to bend or to deviate: Jim was able to deflect being hit by the ball by moving quickly to the side.
3. To direct a person's attention or criticism away from a subject or issue to something else: Patty tried to deflect her friend from noticing the pimple on her nose by wearing her prettiest dress.
4. To force someone to change what he or she is doing or planning to do: The fire deflected the new owners from moving into their newly-built home.
demand (verb), demands; demanded; demanding
1. To ask for urgently: The mayor demanded that the police conduct an investigation into the murder of the child as soon as possible
4. To require as useful, just, proper, or necessary; to call for: Jill was told that the jewelry she was considering to buy had a gem that demanded a fine setting in the necklace.
5. In law: To summon to court; to claim formally; lay legal claim to: During the court proceedings documents were demanded by the prosecutor for further proof of the case.
Theodore demanded to speak to the manager about the poor quality of the product that he had recently purchased.
2. To claim as just or due: The bank is demanding repayment of Joe's loan. 3. To ask to be informed of: The teacher was demanding to know why the students thought her comments were so funny.4. To require as useful, just, proper, or necessary; to call for: Jill was told that the jewelry she was considering to buy had a gem that demanded a fine setting in the necklace.
5. In law: To summon to court; to claim formally; lay legal claim to: During the court proceedings documents were demanded by the prosecutor for further proof of the case.
demonstrable (adjective), more demonstrable, most demonstrable
1. Descriptive of something which is obvious or easy to recognize: Gwen was telling demonstrable lies so often that no one could believe her even when she was telling the truth.
2. Capable of being shown to be true or to exist: There was demonstrable proof that the neighbor set fire to his house so he could collect the insurance.
2. Capable of being shown to be true or to exist: There was demonstrable proof that the neighbor set fire to his house so he could collect the insurance.
demountable (adjective), more demountable, most demountable
1. Referring to the removal of something from the setting or place of support: Jack took the demountable gun from its location above the mantel in order to clean it.
2. Capable of being taken apart or disassembled: The watchmaker scrutinized the demountable parts of the timepiece before beginning to repair it.
3. The capacity of being taken apart and and readily reassembled or repositioned again: Mark had to remove the different demountable parts of his bike to clean them before he could ride it again.
2. Capable of being taken apart or disassembled: The watchmaker scrutinized the demountable parts of the timepiece before beginning to repair it.
3. The capacity of being taken apart and and readily reassembled or repositioned again: Mark had to remove the different demountable parts of his bike to clean them before he could ride it again.
deniable (adjective), more deniable, most deniable
1. A reference to something that is possible to contradict or to declare as being untrue: Shirley's neighbor made deniable accusations that the volume on her TV was turned up much too high every evening.
2. Relating to an issue which is painful and sad, but is actually not true or real: The tragic news was deniable regarding Jane's husband to have died the day before, because he was at work the very next day!
2. Relating to an issue which is painful and sad, but is actually not true or real: The tragic news was deniable regarding Jane's husband to have died the day before, because he was at work the very next day!
denumerable (adjective) (not comparable)
Regarding something that can be totaled or counted up: There are many denumerable things, for example denumerable sins, denumerable assets, denumerable words, etc.
dependable (adjective), more dependable, most dependable
1. Pertaining to someone, or something, that is capable of being trusted, depended upon, or worthy of reliance or trust: Jane was blind and had a very dependable dog to be with her all the time.
2. Yielding the same, or compatible, results in different clinical researches or statistical trials: In her chemistry class at school, Susan always got dependable results in the experiments she had to do.
3. Consistent in performance or behavior; worthy of reliance or trust: Ivy's mother is the most dependable person her husband ever knew and could be counted on in every thinkable situation.
2. Yielding the same, or compatible, results in different clinical researches or statistical trials: In her chemistry class at school, Susan always got dependable results in the experiments she had to do.
3. Consistent in performance or behavior; worthy of reliance or trust: Ivy's mother is the most dependable person her husband ever knew and could be counted on in every thinkable situation.
deplorable (adjective), more deplorable, most deplorable
1. A reference to something which is worthy of severe condemnation or reproach: A man was arrested because he committed a deplorable act of violence at the end of the baseball game when his team lost.
2. Referring to a lamentable or woeful situation: Jane's apartment was in a deplorable condition of filth.
3. Relating to a wretched or bad condition: Too many people were living in deplorable houses in Jack's neighborhood.
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2. Referring to a lamentable or woeful situation: Jane's apartment was in a deplorable condition of filth.
3. Relating to a wretched or bad condition: Too many people were living in deplorable houses in Jack's neighborhood.
