“Coffee, the favorite drink of the civilized world.” – Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States
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.
Coordinate terms
• beverage (relatively formal term for something intended to be drunk)
Source: Wiktionary
Co*mes"ti*ble, a. Etym: [F. comestible, fr. L. comesus, comestus, p. p. pf comedere to eat; com- + edere to eat.]
Definition: Suitable to be eaten; eatable; esculent. Some herbs are most comestible. Sir T. Elyot.
Co*mes"ti*ble, n.
Definition: Something suitable to be eaten; -- commonly in the plural. Thackeray.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
12 January 2025
HABIT
(noun) (psychology) an automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition; “owls have nocturnal habits”; “she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair”; “long use had hardened him to it”
Coffee Trivia
