COMESTIBLE

edible, comestible, eatable

(adjective) suitable for use as food

comestible, edible, eatable, pabulum, victual, victuals

(noun) any substance that can be used as food

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

comestible (comparative more comestible, superlative most comestible)

Suitable to be eaten; edible. [From 15th c.]

Usage notes

Relatively formal; edible is the usual term, while eatable is rather informal.

Synonyms

• (suitable to be eaten): eatable, edible, esculent

Coordinate terms

• drinkable, potable

Noun

comestible (plural comestibles)

(chiefly, in the plural) Anything that can be eaten; food. [From 19th c.]

Synonyms: foodstuff, sustenance, victuals, Thesaurus:food

Usage notes

Rather formal; the simple term food is far more common. Similarly, the term beverage often serves as a formal equivalent of the more common drink. In both cases, the more elevated term (comestible, beverage) is of French origin, while the plain term (food, drink) is of Old English origin, and this stylistic difference by origin is common; see list of English words with dual French and Anglo-Saxon variations.