{"id":766,"date":"2016-07-30T14:13:52","date_gmt":"2016-07-30T18:13:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=766"},"modified":"2016-12-14T20:24:30","modified_gmt":"2016-12-15T01:24:30","slug":"%c2%a787-the-latin-suffixes-bilis-e-ble-and-ilis-e-ile","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/chapter\/%c2%a787-the-latin-suffixes-bilis-e-ble-and-ilis-e-ile\/","title":{"raw":"\u00a787. The Latin suffixes -BILIS (&gt; E -ble) and -ILIS (&gt; E -ile)","rendered":"\u00a787. The Latin suffixes -BILIS (&gt; E -ble) and -ILIS (&gt; E -ile)"},"content":{"raw":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;text-indent: 36pt\">Before reading this chapter, you might be well advised to review <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/part\/chapter-5\/\">Chapter 5<\/a> (summary in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/chapter\/%c2%a741-summary-of-adjective-forming-suffixes\/\">\u00a741<\/a>), where you learned how a variety of suffixes can be attached to Latin NOUN bases in order to form derived adjectives. A closely parallel process occurs with VERBS, using an altogether different set of suffixes.[footnote] This chapter deals only with DEVERBATIVE adjectives formed by the use of suffixes. Don\u2019t forget that the perfect participle, the present participle, and the gerundive are all verbal adjectives, as well; in their case, one may say that the verb stem itself is modified, rather than augmented by a suffix.[\/footnote] Once again, the Latin categories are reflected quite systematically in their English derivatives. Since the principle is one that we have now seen many times, the less important types will be presented with a minimum of comment.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;text-indent: 36pt\">There are two suffixes that convey the idea \u201cable to be,\u201d when joined either to a present or perfect verb base.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"textbox\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>The first is <b>-BILIS<\/b>, which is linked to the verb base by a stem vowel: <b>-a-<\/b> for the 1st conjugation, and <b>-i-<\/b> for the rest. Thus the 1st conjugation verb <b>laudare<\/b> (\u201cpraise\u201d) gave rise to the adjective <b>laud-<strong>\u0101<\/strong><\/b><b>-bilis<\/b> (\u201cable to be praised\u201d) &gt; English <i>laudable<\/i>. This Latin loan-word is very close in meaning to the English hybrid <i>praiseworthy<\/i>.[footnote] It is called a hybrid because the etymon of <em>praise<\/em> is Latin <strong>pretiare<\/strong> (\u201cto value\u201d), a denominative verb from <strong>pretium<\/strong>. The English words <em>praise<\/em>, <em>prize<\/em>, and <em>price<\/em> are all close relatives.[\/footnote] The 4th conjugation verb <b>audire<\/b> (\u201chear\u201d) produced <b>aud-<strong>\u012d<\/strong><\/b><b>-bilis <\/b>(\u201cable to be heard\u201d) &gt; English <i>audible. <\/i> Similarly, <i>portable<\/i> (&lt; L <b>port-<strong>\u0101<\/strong><\/b><b>-bilis<\/b>) means \u201cable to be carried\u201d; and <i>visible<\/i>\u00a0 (&lt; L <b>vis-<strong>\u012d<\/strong><\/b><b>-bilis<\/b>) means \u201cable to be seen.\u201d Notice that the suffix usually expresses a PASSIVE rather than an ACTIVE meaning; that is to say, <i>audible<\/i> conveys the notion \u201cable to be heard,\u201d not \u201cable to hear.\u201d Sometimes an active meaning is apparent, as in the adjective <i>stable<\/i> (&lt; L <b>sta-bilis<\/b>), \u201cable to stand.\u201d[footnote] The <em>stable<\/em> in which farm animals are kept is a homograph derived from L <strong>sta-bulum<\/strong> (a \u201cstand thing\u201d); see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/chapter\/%c2%a774-other-noun-forming-suffixes\/\">\u00a774<\/a>, number 4.[\/footnote] Occasionally the suffix has a slightly different force, as in <i>horrible<\/i> (&lt; L <b>horr-<strong>\u012d<\/strong><\/b><b>-bilis<\/b> &lt; <b>horr<strong>\u0113<\/strong><\/b><b>re<\/b>, \u201cshudder\u201d), which suggests \u201cable to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">cause<\/span> a shudder\u201d (L <b>horror<\/b>).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">From Latin present infinitive bases we get such English adjectives as <i>tangible<\/i> (L <b>tangibilis<\/b> &lt; <b>tang<strong>\u0115<\/strong><\/b><b><\/b><b>re<\/b>, \u201ctouch\u201d); <i>credible<\/i> (L <b>credibilis<\/b> &lt; <b>cred<strong>\u0115<\/strong><\/b><b><\/b><b>re<\/b>, \u201cbelieve\u201d); <i>con-vertible<\/i> and<i> in-contro-vertible<\/i> (L <b>vertibilis<\/b> &lt; <b>vert<strong>\u0115<\/strong><\/b><b><\/b><b>re<\/b>, \u201cturn\u201d). From Latin perfect participle bases come <i>visible<\/i> (L <b>visibilis<\/b> &lt; <b>vid<strong>\u0115<\/strong><\/b><b><\/b><b>re<\/b>, <b>visus<\/b>); <i>flexible<\/i> (L <b>flexibilis<\/b> &lt; <b>flect<strong>\u0115<\/strong><\/b><b><\/b><b>re<\/b>, <b>flexus<\/b>, \u201cbend\u201d); and <i>risible<\/i> (L <b>risibilis<\/b> &lt; <b>rid<strong>\u0113<\/strong><\/b><b><\/b><b>re<\/b>, <b>risus<\/b>, \u201claugh\u201d). <i>Soluble<\/i> (late Latin <b>solubilis<\/b>) is a slightly irregular derivative of <b>solv<strong>\u0115<\/strong><\/b><b><\/b><b>re<\/b>,<b> solutus<\/b>,<b> <\/b>\u201cloose.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"indent\">Unfortunately, a knowledge of Latin will not provide an <i>infallible<\/i>[footnote] &lt; L <strong>fall<b>\u0115<\/b><\/strong><strong>re<\/strong>, \u201cdeceive.\u201d[\/footnote] guide to English spelling. As we saw with Latin present participles, the process of French transmission can confuse the conjugation rules. Thus English has forms such as <i>tenable<\/i> and <i>movable<\/i>, both derived from 2nd conjugation verbs in <b>-<strong>\u0113<\/strong><\/b><b>re<\/b>. Moreover, in modern English usage<i> -able<\/i> is treated as a standard suffix that can be added to almost any verb, whether Latin or Germanic in origin; accordingly, we have <i>transferable<\/i>, <i>manageable<\/i>, <i>workable<\/i>, and a host of other adjectives that have no original Latin counterpart.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>The second suffix is <b>-ILIS<\/b>,[footnote] This morpheme did not have the same Latin pronunciation as the <strong>-<\/strong><strong>\u012blis<\/strong> that was attached to nouns (e.g., <strong>sen-<\/strong><strong>\u012blis<\/strong>, \u201clike an old man\u201d), since the deverbative suffix had a short <strong>-<b>\u012d<\/b><\/strong><strong>- <\/strong>(e.g., <strong>ag<b>\u012d<\/b><\/strong><strong>lis<\/strong>).[\/footnote] identical in usage to <b>-bilis<\/b>. Alongside of <i>tangible<\/i>, we have the adjective <i>tactile<\/i> (L <b>tactilis<\/b> &lt; <b>tangere<\/b>, <b>tactus<\/b>), which has exactly the same etymological meaning, \u201cable to be touched.\u201d In English, <i>tactile<\/i> has acquired a special meaning, \u201cpertaining to the sense of touch.\u201d Although the adjective <i>frangible<\/i> does exist in English, we more often use <i>fragile<\/i> (L <b>fragilis<\/b>, \u201cable to be broken\u201d &lt; <b>frangere<\/b>, <b>fractus<\/b>, root <b>frag<\/b>-). Etymologically, <i>docile<\/i> (L <b>docilis<\/b> &lt; <b>docere<\/b>, \u201cteach\u201d) means \u201cable to be taught\u201d; today it is a virtual synonym for <i>tractable <\/i>(L <b>tractabilis<\/b> &lt; <b>tractare<\/b>), \u201cable to be handled.\u201d <i>Agile<\/i> (L <b>agilis<\/b>) has an active meaning: \u201cable to act\u201d or \u201cdo\u201d (<b>agere<\/b>). A <i>missile<\/i> is \u201cable to be sent\u201d (<b>mittere<\/b>, <b>missus<\/b>), whereas a <i>projectile<\/i> is \u201cable to be thrown forward\u201d (<b>pro-jicere<\/b>,<b> pro-jectus<\/b>). Can you work out the etymological meanings of <i>ductile, tensile, reptile, versatile, <\/i>and<i> volatile<\/i>?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\nBoth the <b>-bilis<\/b> and <b>-ilis<\/b> adjective types could form nouns in<b> -itas<\/b>, as suggested by our words <i>portability, visibility, agility, <\/i>and<i> fragility <\/i>(= <i>frailty<\/i>). Many such English forms, however, are modern coinages, including all hybrids like <i>workability<\/i>.","rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;text-indent: 36pt\">Before reading this chapter, you might be well advised to review <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/part\/chapter-5\/\">Chapter 5<\/a> (summary in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/chapter\/%c2%a741-summary-of-adjective-forming-suffixes\/\">\u00a741<\/a>), where you learned how a variety of suffixes can be attached to Latin NOUN bases in order to form derived adjectives. A closely parallel process occurs with VERBS, using an altogether different set of suffixes.<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"This chapter deals only with DEVERBATIVE adjectives formed by the use of suffixes. Don\u2019t forget that the perfect participle, the present participle, and the gerundive are all verbal adjectives, as well; in their case, one may say that the verb stem itself is modified, rather than augmented by a suffix.\" id=\"return-footnote-766-1\" href=\"#footnote-766-1\" aria-label=\"Footnote 1\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[1]<\/sup><\/a> Once again, the Latin categories are reflected quite systematically in their English derivatives. Since the principle is one that we have now seen many times, the less important types will be presented with a minimum of comment.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;text-indent: 36pt\">There are two suffixes that convey the idea \u201cable to be,\u201d when joined either to a present or perfect verb base.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox\">\n<ul>\n<li>The first is <b>-BILIS<\/b>, which is linked to the verb base by a stem vowel: <b>-a-<\/b> for the 1st conjugation, and <b>-i-<\/b> for the rest. Thus the 1st conjugation verb <b>laudare<\/b> (\u201cpraise\u201d) gave rise to the adjective <b>laud-<strong>\u0101<\/strong><\/b><b>-bilis<\/b> (\u201cable to be praised\u201d) &gt; English <i>laudable<\/i>. This Latin loan-word is very close in meaning to the English hybrid <i>praiseworthy<\/i>.<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"It is called a hybrid because the etymon of praise is Latin pretiare (\u201cto value\u201d), a denominative verb from pretium. The English words praise, prize, and price are all close relatives.\" id=\"return-footnote-766-2\" href=\"#footnote-766-2\" aria-label=\"Footnote 2\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[2]<\/sup><\/a> The 4th conjugation verb <b>audire<\/b> (\u201chear\u201d) produced <b>aud-<strong>\u012d<\/strong><\/b><b>-bilis <\/b>(\u201cable to be heard\u201d) &gt; English <i>audible. <\/i> Similarly, <i>portable<\/i> (&lt; L <b>port-<strong>\u0101<\/strong><\/b><b>-bilis<\/b>) means \u201cable to be carried\u201d; and <i>visible<\/i>\u00a0 (&lt; L <b>vis-<strong>\u012d<\/strong><\/b><b>-bilis<\/b>) means \u201cable to be seen.\u201d Notice that the suffix usually expresses a PASSIVE rather than an ACTIVE meaning; that is to say, <i>audible<\/i> conveys the notion \u201cable to be heard,\u201d not \u201cable to hear.\u201d Sometimes an active meaning is apparent, as in the adjective <i>stable<\/i> (&lt; L <b>sta-bilis<\/b>), \u201cable to stand.\u201d<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"The stable in which farm animals are kept is a homograph derived from L sta-bulum (a \u201cstand thing\u201d); see \u00a774, number 4.\" id=\"return-footnote-766-3\" href=\"#footnote-766-3\" aria-label=\"Footnote 3\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[3]<\/sup><\/a> Occasionally the suffix has a slightly different force, as in <i>horrible<\/i> (&lt; L <b>horr-<strong>\u012d<\/strong><\/b><b>-bilis<\/b> &lt; <b>horr<strong>\u0113<\/strong><\/b><b>re<\/b>, \u201cshudder\u201d), which suggests \u201cable to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">cause<\/span> a shudder\u201d (L <b>horror<\/b>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"indent\">From Latin present infinitive bases we get such English adjectives as <i>tangible<\/i> (L <b>tangibilis<\/b> &lt; <b>tang<strong>\u0115<\/strong><\/b><b><\/b><b>re<\/b>, \u201ctouch\u201d); <i>credible<\/i> (L <b>credibilis<\/b> &lt; <b>cred<strong>\u0115<\/strong><\/b><b><\/b><b>re<\/b>, \u201cbelieve\u201d); <i>con-vertible<\/i> and<i> in-contro-vertible<\/i> (L <b>vertibilis<\/b> &lt; <b>vert<strong>\u0115<\/strong><\/b><b><\/b><b>re<\/b>, \u201cturn\u201d). From Latin perfect participle bases come <i>visible<\/i> (L <b>visibilis<\/b> &lt; <b>vid<strong>\u0115<\/strong><\/b><b><\/b><b>re<\/b>, <b>visus<\/b>); <i>flexible<\/i> (L <b>flexibilis<\/b> &lt; <b>flect<strong>\u0115<\/strong><\/b><b><\/b><b>re<\/b>, <b>flexus<\/b>, \u201cbend\u201d); and <i>risible<\/i> (L <b>risibilis<\/b> &lt; <b>rid<strong>\u0113<\/strong><\/b><b><\/b><b>re<\/b>, <b>risus<\/b>, \u201claugh\u201d). <i>Soluble<\/i> (late Latin <b>solubilis<\/b>) is a slightly irregular derivative of <b>solv<strong>\u0115<\/strong><\/b><b><\/b><b>re<\/b>,<b> solutus<\/b>,<b> <\/b>\u201cloose.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"indent\">Unfortunately, a knowledge of Latin will not provide an <i>infallible<\/i><a class=\"footnote\" title=\"&lt; L fall\u0115re, \u201cdeceive.\u201d\" id=\"return-footnote-766-4\" href=\"#footnote-766-4\" aria-label=\"Footnote 4\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[4]<\/sup><\/a> guide to English spelling. As we saw with Latin present participles, the process of French transmission can confuse the conjugation rules. Thus English has forms such as <i>tenable<\/i> and <i>movable<\/i>, both derived from 2nd conjugation verbs in <b>&#8211;<strong>\u0113<\/strong><\/b><b>re<\/b>. Moreover, in modern English usage<i> -able<\/i> is treated as a standard suffix that can be added to almost any verb, whether Latin or Germanic in origin; accordingly, we have <i>transferable<\/i>, <i>manageable<\/i>, <i>workable<\/i>, and a host of other adjectives that have no original Latin counterpart.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox\">\n<ul>\n<li>The second suffix is <b>-ILIS<\/b>,<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"This morpheme did not have the same Latin pronunciation as the -\u012blis that was attached to nouns (e.g., sen-\u012blis, \u201clike an old man\u201d), since the deverbative suffix had a short -\u012d- (e.g., ag\u012dlis).\" id=\"return-footnote-766-5\" href=\"#footnote-766-5\" aria-label=\"Footnote 5\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[5]<\/sup><\/a> identical in usage to <b>-bilis<\/b>. Alongside of <i>tangible<\/i>, we have the adjective <i>tactile<\/i> (L <b>tactilis<\/b> &lt; <b>tangere<\/b>, <b>tactus<\/b>), which has exactly the same etymological meaning, \u201cable to be touched.\u201d In English, <i>tactile<\/i> has acquired a special meaning, \u201cpertaining to the sense of touch.\u201d Although the adjective <i>frangible<\/i> does exist in English, we more often use <i>fragile<\/i> (L <b>fragilis<\/b>, \u201cable to be broken\u201d &lt; <b>frangere<\/b>, <b>fractus<\/b>, root <b>frag<\/b>-). Etymologically, <i>docile<\/i> (L <b>docilis<\/b> &lt; <b>docere<\/b>, \u201cteach\u201d) means \u201cable to be taught\u201d; today it is a virtual synonym for <i>tractable <\/i>(L <b>tractabilis<\/b> &lt; <b>tractare<\/b>), \u201cable to be handled.\u201d <i>Agile<\/i> (L <b>agilis<\/b>) has an active meaning: \u201cable to act\u201d or \u201cdo\u201d (<b>agere<\/b>). A <i>missile<\/i> is \u201cable to be sent\u201d (<b>mittere<\/b>, <b>missus<\/b>), whereas a <i>projectile<\/i> is \u201cable to be thrown forward\u201d (<b>pro-jicere<\/b>,<b> pro-jectus<\/b>). Can you work out the etymological meanings of <i>ductile, tensile, reptile, versatile, <\/i>and<i> volatile<\/i>?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Both the <b>-bilis<\/b> and <b>-ilis<\/b> adjective types could form nouns in<b> -itas<\/b>, as suggested by our words <i>portability, visibility, agility, <\/i>and<i> fragility <\/i>(= <i>frailty<\/i>). Many such English forms, however, are modern coinages, including all hybrids like <i>workability<\/i>.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"before-footnotes clear\" \/><div class=\"footnotes\"><ol><li id=\"footnote-766-1\"> This chapter deals only with DEVERBATIVE adjectives formed by the use of suffixes. Don\u2019t forget that the perfect participle, the present participle, and the gerundive are all verbal adjectives, as well; in their case, one may say that the verb stem itself is modified, rather than augmented by a suffix. <a href=\"#return-footnote-766-1\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 1\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-766-2\"> It is called a hybrid because the etymon of <em>praise<\/em> is Latin <strong>pretiare<\/strong> (\u201cto value\u201d), a denominative verb from <strong>pretium<\/strong>. The English words <em>praise<\/em>, <em>prize<\/em>, and <em>price<\/em> are all close relatives. <a href=\"#return-footnote-766-2\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 2\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-766-3\"> The <em>stable<\/em> in which farm animals are kept is a homograph derived from L <strong>sta-bulum<\/strong> (a \u201cstand thing\u201d); see <a href=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/chapter\/%c2%a774-other-noun-forming-suffixes\/\">\u00a774<\/a>, number 4. <a href=\"#return-footnote-766-3\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 3\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-766-4\"> &lt; L <strong>fall<b>\u0115<\/b><\/strong><strong>re<\/strong>, \u201cdeceive.\u201d <a href=\"#return-footnote-766-4\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 4\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-766-5\"> This morpheme did not have the same Latin pronunciation as the <strong>-<\/strong><strong>\u012blis<\/strong> that was attached to nouns (e.g., <strong>sen-<\/strong><strong>\u012blis<\/strong>, \u201clike an old man\u201d), since the deverbative suffix had a short <strong>-<b>\u012d<\/b><\/strong><strong>- <\/strong>(e.g., <strong>ag<b>\u012d<\/b><\/strong><strong>lis<\/strong>). <a href=\"#return-footnote-766-5\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 5\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"author":20,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"Chapter 13: Turning Latin Verbs into Latin Adjectives","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[52],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-766","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-numberless"],"part":588,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/766\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2050,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/766\/revisions\/2050"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/588"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/766\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=766"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=766"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}