Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old French
Origin: Latin -abilis, from -bilis 'capable or worthy of'

-able

 suffix
     
-able also -ible [in adjectives]
1XX that you can do something to:
washable (=it can be washed)
unbreakable (=it cannot be broken)
loveable (=easy to love)
2XX having a particular quality or condition:
knowledgeable (=knowing a lot)
comfortable
—-ably , -ibly suffix [in adverbs]
unbelievably
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary