erasable
UK[ɪˈreɪzəbl]US[ɪˈreɪsəbl]
adj
able to be removed or rubbed out, especially something written or drawn
Morpheme Breakdown
erase
able
erase
to rub out
able
capable of
Etymology
the word 'erasable' is a modern english formation built upon the verb 'erase'. 'erase' itself entered english in the 15th century from latin 'erasus', the past participle of 'eradere', which means 'to scrape out'. this latin verb is a compound of 'e-' (meaning 'out') and 'radere' (meaning 'to scrape, to scratch'). the suffix '-able', of latin origin via old french, is productively attached to verbs to create adjectives meaning 'capable of being [verb]ed'. therefore, the literal morphemic construction 'scrape-out-able' logically evolved into the modern abstract meaning of something, like pencil marks or digital data, that is capable of being removed.
Analysis
Structure: erase (to rub out) + able (capable of)
erase (from latin 'erasus', past participle of 'eradere', meaning 'to scrape out, to scratch out'); able (from latin '-abilis', a suffix forming adjectives meaning 'capable of, fit for')
Examples
this pencil is erasable, so you can correct any mistakes easily.
the whiteboard marker is not erasable with a dry cloth; you need a special solvent.
the data on the drive is not permanently erasable without specialized software.