conceivably

the word "conceivably" is built upon the verb "conceive," which originates from the latin concipere, meaning "to take in and hold, to become pregnant, to take into the mind." this latin term itself is a compound of con- (an intensifying prefix meaning "together") and capere (a fundamental verb meaning "to take, seize"). the suffix -ably is the adverbial form of -able, derived from latin -abilis, which denotes capability or possibility. therefore, the literal progression is from the physical act of "taking in" (as in pregnancy) to the mental act of "taking in an idea," and finally, with the addition of the adverbial suffix, to the modern abstract sense of "in a manner that is capable of being taken into the mind as a possibility."

Structure: conceive (to form an idea) + ably (adverb suffix) conceive (from latin concipere, from con- (together) + capere (to take)); ably (from latin -abilis, forming adjectives meaning "capable of, fit for," later forming adverbs via -abiliter)