Where does “retortable” come from?
retortable (English) comes from English retort, from French retorte, from Medieval Latin retorta, from Latin retortus, from Latin retorqueo, from Latin rĕ-, from Latin prōdūcō, from Latin prō- — passed , crossed.
retortable (English): To which one may produce a counterargument; answerable
Definitions
- To which one may produce a counterargument; answerable
Ancestry of “retortable”, step by step
retortable traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English retort
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | retort | A sharp or witty reply, or one which turns an... |
| 2 | French | retorte | retort |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | retorta | nominative feminine singular of retortus;... |
| 4 | Latin | retortus | twisted, turned, bent |
| 5 | Latin | retorqueo | I twist, turn, bend or cast back; avert, deflect;... |
| 6 | Latin | rĕ- | back, backwards |
| 7 | Latin | prōdūcō | to lead or bring forth, forward or out |
| 8 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |
via English able
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | able | Easy to use; Suitable; competent; Liable to |
| 2 | Middle English | able | capable, expert, qualified, skilful, competent |
| 3 | Old French | able | able; capable |
| 4 | Latin | habilis | able to have/possess/maintain; having sufficient... |
| 5 | Latin | -ilis | -ile |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | -elis | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -elis | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -lós | Forms agent nouns from verbal roots |