bearable
UK[ˈbeərəbl]US[ˈberəbl]
adj
able to be accepted or endured, even if unpleasant.
Morpheme Breakdown
bear
able
bear
to carry, endure
able
capable of
Etymology
the word 'bearable' is a late middle english formation, built upon the old english verb 'bear', which descends from the proto-indo-european root bher-, meaning "to carry". this root gave rise to a vast family of words across indo-european languages related to carrying burdens, bearing fruit, and enduring hardship. the suffix '-able', of latin origin via french, was productively attached to verbs to create adjectives indicating capacity. thus, the literal construction "capable of being borne" evolved logically into its modern abstract sense of something that can be tolerated or endured without excessive difficulty.
Analysis
Structure: bear (to carry, endure) + able (capable of)
- bear: from old english beran (to carry, bear, endure), of proto-germanic origin, from the pie root bher- (to carry). functions as the core verb root.
- able: from latin -abilis, a suffix forming adjectives meaning "capable of, fit for, tending to". functions as a derivational suffix.
Examples
the pain was sharp but bearable.
with air conditioning, the summer heat became bearable.
he found the long meetings barely bearable.