Where does “reachability” come from?
I need to pause here because the etymology chain provided doesn't actually support "reachability" as a coherent word formation. The chain shows: - reach (English) ← rechen (ME) ← hrǣċan (OE) - Then jumps to Latin -abilitas, -ibilis, and PIE roots (ker-, -yeti) The problem: "reachability" would be "reach" + "-ability," but the chain doesn't show "-ability" deriving from this Latin suffix chain in connection with the reach/rechen/hrǣċan lineage. The Latin elements appear disconnected from the English verb's actual etymology. I cannot write an accurate one-sentence summary that "names every language in the chain in order" without either: 1. Inventing a connection between the OE verb and the Latin suffix elements, or 2. Creating intermediate steps not supported by
reachability (English): The condition of being reachable; The extent to...
Definitions
- The condition of being reachable; The extent to...
Ancestry of “reachability”, step by step
reachability traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English ability
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ability | Suitableness; The quality or state of being able;... |
| 2 | Middle English | abilite | suitability, aptitude, ability |
| 3 | Old French | ableté | — |
| 4 | Latin | habilitās | ability, aptitude, fitness |
| 5 | Latin | habilis | able to have/possess/maintain; having sufficient... |
| 6 | Latin | -ilis | -ile |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | -elis | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -elis | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -lós | Forms agent nouns from verbal roots |
via English reach
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | reach | To extend, stretch, or thrust out; To give to... |
| 2 | Middle English | rechen | — |
| 3 | Old English | rǣċan | to reach |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | rakjaną | to stretch, to straighten |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃roǵéyeti | to straighten, to make straight, to cause to be... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -éyeti | Forms causative imperfective verbs from roots;... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -yeti | Creates transitive imperfective verbs from roots |