Where does “tarnishable” come from?
tarnishable (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.
tarnishable (English): Capable of becoming tarnished
Definitions
- Capable of becoming tarnished
Ancestry of “tarnishable”, step by step
tarnishable 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 tarnish
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | tarnish | Oxidation or discoloration, especially of a... |
| 2 | Middle English | ternysshen | — |
| 3 | Old French | ternir | to make dim, make wan |
| 4 | Old High German | *ternen | — |