Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “-able” come from?

-able (English) comes from Middle English -able, from Old French -able, from Latin -ābilis.

-able (English): An adjectival suffix; forms adjectives meaning

Definitions

  1. An adjectival suffix; forms adjectives meaning

Ancestry of “-able”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle English-able-able
2Old French-ableworthy of, deserving of; -ing, creating an...
3Latin-ābilis—

Words derived from “-able”

  • available
  • considerable
  • valuable
  • remarkable
  • suitable
  • considerably
  • availability
  • sustainable
  • respectable
  • presumably
  • accountability
  • remarkably
  • fashionable
  • payable
  • unreasonable
  • taxable
  • affordable
  • advisable
  • accountable
  • noticeable
  • invaluable
  • questionable
  • predictable
  • readable
Every word from Latin -ābilis →