Where does “-able” come from?

-able (English) comes from Middle English -able, from Old French -able, from Latin -ābilis — suffixed to noun to form adjectives meaning "able to have or bring, prone to have or bring, having the power to have or bring": -able.

-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-ableable
2Old French-ableworthy of, deserving of; -ing, creating an...
3Latin-ābilissuffixed to noun to form adjectives meaning "able to have or bring, prone to have or bring, having the power to have or bring": -able

Words derived from “-able”

Every word from Latin -ābilis →Every word from Middle English -able →Every word from Old French -able →