collectibles
Meaning
Items that are collected as a hobby, often due to their rarity, age, or sentimental value.
Structure
Usage
His attic is filled with boxes of vintage toys and other collectibles.
Rare stamps are among the most valuable and sought-after collectibles.
The convention was a paradise for anyone interested in comic books and movie memorabilia collectibles.
Etymology
The word 'collectibles' is built upon the Latin verb colligere, meaning 'to gather or pick together', which itself is a compound of com- ('together') and legere ('to gather, choose'). The suffix -ible, of Latin origin, transforms the action into a passive quality, creating the adjective 'collectible' to describe items worthy of being gathered. As the hobby of accumulating specific objects grew in the 20th century, this adjective was nominalized into a plural noun, 'collectibles', to categorize the entire class of such items. Thus, the term logically encapsulates objects deemed capable of and suitable for systematic gathering by enthusiasts.
Analysis
- collect: From Latin collectus, past participle of colligere ('to gather together'). The functional role is the core verb root meaning 'to gather'. - ible: A suffix from Latin -ibilis, indicating 'capable of being'. Its functional role is to form an adjective meaning 'able to be collected'. - s: A plural suffix from Old English, used to form the regular plural of nouns.