malleable
UK[ˈmæliəbl]US[ˈmæliəbl]
adj
(of a metal or other material) able to be hammered or pressed permanently out of shape without breaking or cracking.
adj
easily influenced; pliable.
Morpheme Breakdown
malle
able
malle
hammer
able
capable of
Etymology
the word 'malleable' originates from the latin verb 'malleare', meaning 'to hammer', which itself derives from 'malleus', a hammer. the suffix '-abilis' was added to form the medieval latin term 'malleabilis', literally 'capable of being hammered'. this metallurgical sense was adopted into middle english from old french. over time, the semantic field expanded metaphorically, applying the physical property of being easily shaped to describe a person or mind that is easily influenced or adaptable.
Analysis
Structure: malle (hammer) + able (capable of)
malle is from latin 'malleus', meaning 'hammer'. able is from latin '-abilis', a suffix forming adjectives meaning 'capable of, fit for'.
Examples
gold is a highly malleable metal, allowing it to be beaten into extremely thin sheets.
children's minds are often more malleable and open to new ideas.
the plan is still malleable and can be adjusted based on your feedback.