DEFAULTSORT:able
see|able
English

rfc|remove the copyvio stuff

Etymology
From F. #French|-able, from L. -abilis.

Suffix
-able

1. An adjective suffix, now usually in a passive sense; forms adjectives meaning possible, or fit.
2. able to be

#:movable: able to be moved
#:amendable, able to be amended

1. fit to be

#:blamable, fit to be blamed
#:salable, fit to be sold

1. relevant or suitable to, in accordance with

#:fashionable
#:seasonable

1. expressing capacity or worthiness in a passive sense
2. indicating obligation

#:Is value added tax payable on planning application fees?
#*References: The OED, whose entry "payable" identifies the word's etymology as "pay" + the suffix "-able" and provides the definition: "Of a sum of money, bill, tax, etc.: that is to be paid; due, owing; falling due (at or on a specified date, or to a specified person). Also fig."

Usage notes
The form -ible has the same senses and pronunciation. The choice between the two is somewhat idiosyncratic, but in general, -ible is used in forms derived from Latin verbs of the second, third, and fourth conjugations, and in a few words whose roots end in a soft c or g, while -able is used in all other such words, particularly those formed from Latin verbs of the first conjugation and those that come from French or from Anglo-Saxon (Old English). Fowler's English Usage recommends using -ible for simplicity's sake in any word whose root ends in a soft c or g (e.g. changible rather than changeable), but this recommendation has generally not been followed.
A number of adjectives in -able come from verbs that do not have direct objects, but that rather are construed with prepositions. In these cases, the preposition does not appear with the adjective in -able; hence, reliable ("able to be rely|relied on"), laughable ("suited for laugh|laughing at"), remarkable ("fit to be remark|remarked upon"), and so on.

Translations
Catalan: -able, -ible
Dutch: -baar (mostly for Germanic words), -abel (mostly for Romanic loanwords)
Esperanto: -ebla
Finnish: -tava, -tävä
French: -able
Frisian: -ber
German: -bar
Italian: -abile
Latin: -abilis, -ibilis
Portuguese: -ável, -ível
Romanian: -abil
Spanish: -able, -ible
Swedish: -bar (1,2)
Turkish: -ebil or -abil (because of vowel harmony)

See also
ability
able
can
-ible

Category:English suffixes

French

Suffix
-able (plural: -ables)

1. able to be done (similar to English, above)

Category:French suffixes

Spanish

Suffix
-able (plural: -ables)

1. able to be done (similar to English, above)

Category:Spanish suffixes

fr:-able

• 2007-11-10 16:15 - SPQRobin - /* Translations */ Dutch

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