Where does “spongeable” come from?
spongeable (English) comes from English able, from Middle English able, from Old French able, from Latin habilis, from Latin -ilis, from Proto-Italic -elis, from Proto-Indo-European -elis, from Proto-Indo-European -lós — Forms agent nouns from verbal roots.
spongeable (English): Suitable for cleaning with a damp sponge
Definitions
- Suitable for cleaning with a damp sponge
Ancestry of “spongeable”, step by step
spongeable traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
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 |
via English sponge
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | sponge | Any of various marine invertebrates, mostly of... |
| 2 | Old English | spunge | — |
| 3 | Latin | spongia | A sponge; pumice, or other things resembling a... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | σπογγιά | sponge |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | -ῐ́ᾱ | {{l|en|-ia}}; "suffix forming abstract feminine... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -íh₂ | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -h₂ | Creates collective nouns, which refer to groups... |