Origins

Word-forming element making adjectives from verbs, borrowed in Middle English from Old French –ible and directly from Latin adjective suffix –ibilis (properly –bilis); see –able.

Usage Notes

  • When a word ends in –ible, it’s less likely that the part before the ending will be a recognisable English word, e.g. permissible (from permiss), audible (from aud).
  • This is only a guideline and there are exceptions to the general principle. For example, accessible and collapsible both end in –ible even though they are formed from the recognisable words access and collapse.
  • Adjectives ending in –ible (and also –ate) may have opposites with in-.
  • Only a few words in English end in the suffix –ible: acid-soluble, dissoluble, fat-soluble, indissoluble, insoluble, irresoluble, non-soluble, oil-soluble, redissoluble, re(-)soluble, revoluble, soluble, voluble, water-soluble, water-insoluble

Word Formation Resource

1 Point

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