-ABLE


Meaning of -ABLE in English

adjective suffix

also -ible əbəl

Usage: see Explan Notes

Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin -abilis, -ibilis, from -a-, -i- (thematic vowels of various conjugations of verbs) + -bilis capable or worthy of (being acted upon)

1. : capable of, fit for, or worthy of (being so acted upon or toward) — chiefly in adjectives derived from verbs

break able

connect ible

eat able

lov able

2. : tending to, given to, favoring, causing, able to, or liable to

agree able

change able

knowledge able

peace able

perish able

• -a·ble·ness əbəlnə̇s noun suffix -es

• -a·bly also -i·bly əblē, -li adverb suffix{

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.