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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

speakable en · ADJ

Etymology

From Middle English spekabyll; equivalent to speak + -able.

Meanings

  1. (not-comparable) That can be spoken; utterable, verbalizable.
  2. (not-comparable) Acceptable as a topic of discussion; not subject to taboo.
    • Once the group knows that suicide is a speakable topic […] 2004, Robert I. Yufit, David Lester, Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention of Suicidal Behavior:
    • 2016, Major Kwark in Ratchet and Clank (film), 75m Arrest this man for his speakable crimes against the galaxy.
  3. (not-comparable, obsolete) Capable of speech.
    • Redouble then this miracle, and say, / How cam'st thou speakable of mute […] 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

Deriveds

speakableness · unspeakable