fallible

the word fallible entered english in the late 15th century from medieval latin fallibilis, which itself derives from the latin verb fallere, meaning 'to deceive, to trip, to err'. the core semantic thread from fallere is the concept of failing or being at fault, which is preserved in related english words like 'false' and 'fallacy'. the suffix -ibilis (english -ible) attaches to verb stems to form adjectives meaning 'able to be' or 'having the capacity for'. thus, the literal construction 'capable of erring' directly and logically yields the modern abstract meaning of being liable to make mistakes or be incorrect, a fundamental attribute of human judgment.

Structure: fall (err) + ible (capable of) fall (from latin fallere, meaning 'to deceive, to disappoint, to err'); ible (from latin suffix -ibilis, meaning 'capable of, able to be').