-able
a suffix meaning “capable of, susceptible of, fit for, tending to, given to,” -ssociated in meaning with the word able, occurring in loanwords from latin (laudable); used in english as a highly productive suffix to form adjectives by addition to stems of any origin (teachable; photographable).
also, -ble, -ible.
-able
suffix
capable of, suitable for, or deserving of (being acted upon as indicated) enjoyable, pitiable, readable, separable, washable
inclined to; given to; able to; causing comfortable, reasonable, variable
derived forms
-ably, suffix:forming_adverbs
-ability, suffix:forming_nouns
word origin
via old french from latin -ābilis,-ībilis, forms of -bilis, adjectival suffix
-able
suffix expressing ability, capacity, fitness, from fr., from l. -ibilis, -abilis, forming adjectives from verbs, from pie –tro-, a suffix used to form nouns of instrument. in l., infinitives in -are took -abilis, others -ibilis; in eng., -able is used for native words, -ible for words of obvious l. origin. the latin suffix is not etymologically connected with able, but it long has been popularly -ssociated with it, and this has contributed to its survival as a living suffix. it is related to the second syllable of rudder and saddle.
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