Etymology
Advertisement

effable (adj.)

"that may be (lawfully) expressed in words," 1630s, from French effable or directly, from Latin effabilis "utterable," from effari "to utter" (see ineffable). Now obsolete or archaic.

Entries linking to effable

ineffable (adj.)
late 14c., "beyond expression, too great for words, inexpressible," from Old French ineffable (14c.) or directly from Latin ineffabilis "unutterable," from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + effabilis "speakable," from effari "utter," from assimilated form of ex "out" (see ex-) + fari "to say, speak," from PIE root *bha- (2) "to speak, tell, say."

Meaning "that may not be spoken" is from 1590s. Plural noun ineffables was, for a time, a jocular euphemism for "trousers" (1823; see inexpressible). Related: Ineffably.

Others are reading

Advertisement
Advertisement

Dictionary entries near effable

eeny

-eer

eerie

eerily

eff

effable

efface

effacement

effect

effected

effective

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper