speakable

adj — 3 senses

speakable

adj

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

1

That can be spoken; utterable, verbalizable.

2

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

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:
Derived terms
speakableness, unspeakable

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.