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Q&A How did “-able” semantically shift to mean “requiring”?

Etymonline on "-able" doesn't expound the origin of "requiring". -able common termination and word-forming element of English adjectives (typically based on verbs) and generally adding a notion...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by PSTH‭  ·  edited 3y ago by PSTH‭

#9: Post edited by user avatar PSTH‭ · 2021-08-20T06:57:27Z (about 3 years ago)
  • [Etymonline on "-able"](https://www.etymonline.com/word/-able) doesn't expound the origin of "**requiring**".
  • > # \-able
  • >
  • > common termination and word-forming element of English adjectives (typically based on verbs) and generally adding a notion of "capable of; allowed; worthy of; **requiring**; to be \_\_\_\_\_\_ed," sometimes "full of, causing," from French _-able_ and directly from Latin _-abilis_. It is properly \-ble, from Latin _-bilis_ (the vowel being generally from the stem ending of the verb being suffixed), and it represents PIE _*-tro_, a suffix used to form nouns of instrument, cognate with the second syllables of English [rudder](https://www.etymonline.com/word/rudder?ref=etymonline_crossreference) and [saddle](https://www.etymonline.com/word/saddle?ref=etymonline_crossreference#etymonline_v_22588) (n.).
  • For example, "payABLE" literally means ABLE to pay. Ability differs from requirement. How did "payable" semantically shift to meaning 1 below?
  • >1. [(of money) required to be paid; due.](https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/payable)
  • >
  • >2. Able to be paid.
  • >**payables**
  • >
  • >Debts owed by a business; liabilities.
  • [payable (adj.) on Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/payable#etymonline_v_35801 "Origin and meaning of payable")
  • >
  • > late 14c., *paiable*, "to be paid, that can be or is to be paid,"
  • from [pay](https://www.etymonline.com/word/pay?ref=etymonline_crossreference#etymonline_v_10195) (v.) + [-able](https://www.etymonline.com/word/-able?ref=etymonline_crossreference) or from Old French *paiable*. From late 13c. as a surname, from the Old French word in its other sense, "of good quality."
  • [Etymonline on "-able"](https://www.etymonline.com/word/-able) doesn't expound the origin of "**requiring**".
  • > # \-able
  • >
  • > common termination and word-forming element of English adjectives (typically based on verbs) and generally adding a notion of "capable of; allowed; worthy of; **requiring**; to be \_\_\_\_\_\_ed," sometimes "full of, causing," from French _-able_ and directly from Latin _-abilis_. It is properly \-ble, from Latin _-bilis_ (the vowel being generally from the stem ending of the verb being suffixed), and it represents PIE _*-tro_, a suffix used to form nouns of instrument, cognate with the second syllables of English [rudder](https://www.etymonline.com/word/rudder?ref=etymonline_crossreference) and [saddle](https://www.etymonline.com/word/saddle?ref=etymonline_crossreference#etymonline_v_22588) (n.).
  • For example, "payABLE" literally means ABLE to pay. Ability differs from requirement. How did "payable" semantically shift to meaning 1 below?
  • >1. [(of money) required to be paid; due.](https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/payable)
  • >
  • >2. Able to be paid.
  • >
  • >**payables**
  • >
  • >Debts owed by a business; liabilities.
  • [payable (adj.) on Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/payable#etymonline_v_35801 "Origin and meaning of payable")
  • >
  • > late 14c., *paiable*, "to be paid, that can be or is to be paid,"
  • from [pay](https://www.etymonline.com/word/pay?ref=etymonline_crossreference#etymonline_v_10195) (v.) + [-able](https://www.etymonline.com/word/-able?ref=etymonline_crossreference) or from Old French *paiable*. From late 13c. as a surname, from the Old French word in its other sense, "of good quality."
#8: Nominated for promotion by user avatar Moshi‭ · 2021-01-17T19:46:47Z (almost 4 years ago)
#7: Post edited by user avatar Moshi‭ · 2021-01-09T17:18:35Z (almost 4 years ago)
Fixed link & markdown
  • [Etymonline on "-able"](https://www.etymonline.com/word/-able) doesn't expound the origin of "**requiring**".
  • > # \-able
  • >
  • > common termination and word-forming element of English adjectives (typically based on verbs) and generally adding a notion of "capable of; allowed; worthy of; **requiring**; to be \_\_\_\_\_\_ed," sometimes "full of, causing," from French _-able_ and directly from Latin _-abilis_. It is properly \-ble, from Latin _-bilis_ (the vowel being generally from the stem ending of the verb being suffixed), and it represents PIE _*-tro_, a suffix used to form nouns of instrument, cognate with the second syllables of English [rudder](https://www.etymonline.com/word/rudder?ref=etymonline_crossreference) and [saddle](https://www.etymonline.com/word/saddle?ref=etymonline_crossreference#etymonline_v_22588) (n.).
  • For example, "payABLE" literally means ABLE to pay. Ability differs from requirement. How did "payable" semantically shift to meaning 1 below?
  • >[1. (of money) required to be paid; due.]((https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/payable))
  • >2. Able to be paid.
  • >**payables** Debts owed by a business; liabilities.
  • [payable (adj.) on Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/payable#etymonline_v_35801 "Origin and meaning of payable")
  • >
  • > late 14c., *paiable*, "to be paid, that can be or is to be paid,"
  • from [pay](https://www.etymonline.com/word/pay?ref=etymonline_crossreference#etymonline_v_10195) (v.) + [-able](https://www.etymonline.com/word/-able?ref=etymonline_crossreference) or from Old French *paiable*. From late 13c. as a surname, from the Old French word in its other sense, "of good quality."
  • [Etymonline on "-able"](https://www.etymonline.com/word/-able) doesn't expound the origin of "**requiring**".
  • > # \-able
  • >
  • > common termination and word-forming element of English adjectives (typically based on verbs) and generally adding a notion of "capable of; allowed; worthy of; **requiring**; to be \_\_\_\_\_\_ed," sometimes "full of, causing," from French _-able_ and directly from Latin _-abilis_. It is properly \-ble, from Latin _-bilis_ (the vowel being generally from the stem ending of the verb being suffixed), and it represents PIE _*-tro_, a suffix used to form nouns of instrument, cognate with the second syllables of English [rudder](https://www.etymonline.com/word/rudder?ref=etymonline_crossreference) and [saddle](https://www.etymonline.com/word/saddle?ref=etymonline_crossreference#etymonline_v_22588) (n.).
  • For example, "payABLE" literally means ABLE to pay. Ability differs from requirement. How did "payable" semantically shift to meaning 1 below?
  • >1. [(of money) required to be paid; due.](https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/payable)
  • >
  • >2. Able to be paid.
  • >**payables**
  • >
  • >Debts owed by a business; liabilities.
  • [payable (adj.) on Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/payable#etymonline_v_35801 "Origin and meaning of payable")
  • >
  • > late 14c., *paiable*, "to be paid, that can be or is to be paid,"
  • from [pay](https://www.etymonline.com/word/pay?ref=etymonline_crossreference#etymonline_v_10195) (v.) + [-able](https://www.etymonline.com/word/-able?ref=etymonline_crossreference) or from Old French *paiable*. From late 13c. as a surname, from the Old French word in its other sense, "of good quality."
#6: Post edited by user avatar PSTH‭ · 2021-01-09T09:09:35Z (almost 4 years ago)
  • How does payable mean "required to be paid", not only "able to pay"?
  • How did “-able” semantically shift to mean “requiring”?
  • Literally, "payABLE" means ABLE to pay. Ability differs from requirement. How did "payable" semantically shift to meaning 1 below? [Payable | Definition of Payable by Oxford Dictionary](https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/payable)
  • >1. (of money) required to be paid; due.
  • >2. Able to be paid.
  • >**payables** Debts owed by a business; liabilities.
  • [payable (adj.) on Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/payable#etymonline_v_35801 "Origin and meaning of payable")
  • >
  • > late 14c., *paiable*, "to be paid, that can be or is to be paid,"
  • from [pay](https://www.etymonline.com/word/pay?ref=etymonline_crossreference#etymonline_v_10195) (v.) + [-able](https://www.etymonline.com/word/-able?ref=etymonline_crossreference) or from Old French *paiable*. From late 13c. as a surname, from the Old French word in its other sense, "of good quality."
  • [Etymonline on "-able"](https://www.etymonline.com/word/-able) doesn't expound the origin of "**requiring**".
  • > # \-able
  • >
  • > common termination and word-forming element of English adjectives (typically based on verbs) and generally adding a notion of "capable of; allowed; worthy of; **requiring**; to be \_\_\_\_\_\_ed," sometimes "full of, causing," from French _-able_ and directly from Latin _-abilis_. It is properly \-ble, from Latin _-bilis_ (the vowel being generally from the stem ending of the verb being suffixed), and it represents PIE _*-tro_, a suffix used to form nouns of instrument, cognate with the second syllables of English [rudder](https://www.etymonline.com/word/rudder?ref=etymonline_crossreference) and [saddle](https://www.etymonline.com/word/saddle?ref=etymonline_crossreference#etymonline_v_22588) (n.).
  • For example, "payABLE" literally means ABLE to pay. Ability differs from requirement. How did "payable" semantically shift to meaning 1 below?
  • >[1. (of money) required to be paid; due.]((https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/payable))
  • >2. Able to be paid.
  • >**payables** Debts owed by a business; liabilities.
  • [payable (adj.) on Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/payable#etymonline_v_35801 "Origin and meaning of payable")
  • >
  • > late 14c., *paiable*, "to be paid, that can be or is to be paid,"
  • from [pay](https://www.etymonline.com/word/pay?ref=etymonline_crossreference#etymonline_v_10195) (v.) + [-able](https://www.etymonline.com/word/-able?ref=etymonline_crossreference) or from Old French *paiable*. From late 13c. as a surname, from the Old French word in its other sense, "of good quality."
#5: Post edited by user avatar PSTH‭ · 2020-12-21T05:24:08Z (almost 4 years ago)
  • Literally, "payABLE" means ABLE to pay. Ability differs from requirement. How did "payable" semantically shift to meaning 1 below? [Payable | Definition of Payable by Oxford Dictionary](https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/payable)
  • >1. (of money) required to be paid; due.
  • >2. Able to be paid.
  • >**payables** Debts owed by a business; liabilities.
  • [payable (adj.) on Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/payable#etymonline_v_35801 "Origin and meaning of payable")
  • >
  • > late 14c., paiable, "to be paid, that can be or is to be paid," from pay (v.) + \-able or from Old French paiable. From late 13c. as a surname, from the Old French word in its other sense, "of good quality."
  • Literally, "payABLE" means ABLE to pay. Ability differs from requirement. How did "payable" semantically shift to meaning 1 below? [Payable | Definition of Payable by Oxford Dictionary](https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/payable)
  • >1. (of money) required to be paid; due.
  • >2. Able to be paid.
  • >**payables** Debts owed by a business; liabilities.
  • [payable (adj.) on Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/payable#etymonline_v_35801 "Origin and meaning of payable")
  • >
  • > late 14c., *paiable*, "to be paid, that can be or is to be paid,"
  • from [pay](https://www.etymonline.com/word/pay?ref=etymonline_crossreference#etymonline_v_10195) (v.) + [-able](https://www.etymonline.com/word/-able?ref=etymonline_crossreference) or from Old French *paiable*. From late 13c. as a surname, from the Old French word in its other sense, "of good quality."
#4: Post edited by user avatar PSTH‭ · 2020-12-21T05:22:48Z (almost 4 years ago)
  • Literally, "payABLE" means ABLE to pay. Ability differs from requirement. How did "payable" semantically shift to meaning 1 below? [payable | Search Online Etymology Dictionary](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=payable)
  • [Payable | Definition of Payable by Oxford Dictionary](https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/payable)
  • >1. (of money) required to be paid; due.
  • >2. Able to be paid.
  • >**payables** Debts owed by a business; liabilities.
  • > [payable (adj.)](https://www.etymonline.com/word/payable#etymonline_v_35801 "Origin and meaning of payable")
  • >
  • > late 14c., paiable, "to be paid, that can be or is to be paid," from pay (v.) + \-able or from Old French paiable. From late 13c. as a surname, from the Old French word in its other sense, "of good quality."
  • Literally, "payABLE" means ABLE to pay. Ability differs from requirement. How did "payable" semantically shift to meaning 1 below? [Payable | Definition of Payable by Oxford Dictionary](https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/payable)
  • >1. (of money) required to be paid; due.
  • >2. Able to be paid.
  • >**payables** Debts owed by a business; liabilities.
  • [payable (adj.) on Etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/payable#etymonline_v_35801 "Origin and meaning of payable")
  • >
  • > late 14c., paiable, "to be paid, that can be or is to be paid," from pay (v.) + \-able or from Old French paiable. From late 13c. as a surname, from the Old French word in its other sense, "of good quality."
#3: Post edited by user avatar Jirka Hanika‭ · 2020-12-11T15:31:38Z (almost 4 years ago)
#2: Post edited by user avatar PSTH‭ · 2020-12-11T05:56:07Z (almost 4 years ago)
  • How does payable mean "required to be paid"?
  • How does payable mean "required to be paid", not only "able to pay"?
  • Literally, "payABLE" means ABLE to pay. Ability differs from requirement. How did "payable" semantically shift to meaning 1 below? [payable | Search Online Etymology Dictionary](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=payable)
  • [Payable | Definition of Payable by Oxford Dictionary on Lexico.com also meaning of Payable](https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/payable)
  • >1. (of money) required to be paid; due.
  • >2. Able to be paid.
  • >**payables** Debts owed by a business; liabilities.
  • > [payable (adj.)](https://www.etymonline.com/word/payable#etymonline_v_35801 "Origin and meaning of payable")
  • >
  • > late 14c., paiable, "to be paid, that can be or is to be paid," from pay (v.) + \-able or from Old French paiable. From late 13c. as a surname, from the Old French word in its other sense, "of good quality."
  • Literally, "payABLE" means ABLE to pay. Ability differs from requirement. How did "payable" semantically shift to meaning 1 below? [payable | Search Online Etymology Dictionary](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=payable)
  • [Payable | Definition of Payable by Oxford Dictionary](https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/payable)
  • >1. (of money) required to be paid; due.
  • >2. Able to be paid.
  • >**payables** Debts owed by a business; liabilities.
  • > [payable (adj.)](https://www.etymonline.com/word/payable#etymonline_v_35801 "Origin and meaning of payable")
  • >
  • > late 14c., paiable, "to be paid, that can be or is to be paid," from pay (v.) + \-able or from Old French paiable. From late 13c. as a surname, from the Old French word in its other sense, "of good quality."
#1: Initial revision by user avatar PSTH‭ · 2020-12-11T05:55:44Z (almost 4 years ago)
How does payable mean "required to be paid"? 
Literally, "payABLE" means ABLE to pay. Ability differs from requirement. How did "payable" semantically shift to meaning 1 below?  [payable | Search Online Etymology Dictionary](https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=payable)

[Payable | Definition of Payable by Oxford Dictionary on Lexico.com also meaning of Payable](https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/payable)

>1. (of money) required to be paid; due.

>2. Able to be paid.

>**payables**     Debts owed by a business; liabilities.

> [payable (adj.)](https://www.etymonline.com/word/payable#etymonline_v_35801 "Origin and meaning of payable")
> 
> late 14c., paiable, "to be paid, that can be or is to be paid," from pay (v.) + \-able or from Old French paiable. From late 13c. as a surname, from the Old French word in its other sense, "of good quality."