-ably

See also: ably

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From -able +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /əbli/ (unstressed)
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)

Suffix

-ably

  1. Used to form adverbs corresponding to adjectives that end in -able.
    suitably

Usage notes

Generally only used to form analogs to adjectives ending in -able, replacing the existing -able. Rather than a distinct suffix, this can be considered a class of euphonic blends of -ble and -ly, as in feebly, nimbly, and nobly, among others. Compare -ability, which is more strictly an analog, originating in parallel borrowings from French, sometimes Latin.

Derived terms

References

  1. ^ Laurence Urdang (editor), The Random House College Dictionary (Random House, 1984 [1975], →ISBN), page 4

Anagrams