Where does “foreseeable” come from?
Foreseeable derives from English foresee plus Middle English -able, from Old French -able, from Latin -abilis, ultimately from Latin -i-.
foreseeable (English): able to be foreseen or anticipated
Definitions
- able to be foreseen or anticipated
Ancestry of “foreseeable”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | -able | An adjectival suffix; forms adjectives meaning |
| 2 | Middle English | -able | able |
| 3 | Old French | -able | worthy of, deserving of; -ing, creating an... |
| 4 | 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 |