In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.
IBLE
*a*ble. Etym: [F. -able, L. -abilis.]
Definition: An adjective suffix now usually in a passive sense; able to be; fit to be; expressing capacity or worthiness in a passive sense; as, movable, able to be moved; amendable, able to be amended; blamable, fit to be blamed; salable.
Note: The form ible is used in the same sense.
Note: It is difficult to say when we are not to use -able instead of -ible. "Yet a rule may be laid down as to when we are to use it. To all verbs, then, from the Anglo-Saxon, to all based on the uncorrupted infinitival stems of Latin verbs of the first conjugation, and to all substantives, whencesoever sprung, we annex - able only." Fitzed. Hall.
*a*ble. Etym: [F. -able, L. -abilis.]
Definition: An adjective suffix now usually in a passive sense; able to be; fit to be; expressing capacity or worthiness in a passive sense; as, movable, able to be moved; amendable, able to be amended; blamable, fit to be blamed; salable.
Note: The form ible is used in the same sense.
Note: It is difficult to say when we are not to use -able instead of -ible. "Yet a rule may be laid down as to when we are to use it. To all verbs, then, from the Anglo-Saxon, to all based on the uncorrupted infinitival stems of Latin verbs of the first conjugation, and to all substantives, whencesoever sprung, we annex - able only." Fitzed. Hall.
-i*ble
Definition: . See -able.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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14 April 2025
FOCUS
(noun) maximum clarity or distinctness of an image rendered by an optical system; “in focus”; “out of focus”
Coffee Trivia
