releasable
UK[rɪˈliːsəbl̩]US[rɪˈliːsəbl̩]
adj
able to be released or made available
adj
capable of being set free from a constraint or obligation
Morpheme Breakdown
releas
able
releas
to set free
able
capable of
Etymology
the adjective 'releasable' is formed by appending the productive suffix '-able' to the verb stem 'release'. the core verb 'release' entered english via anglo-norman and old french, tracing back to the latin 'relaxare', meaning to loosen or slacken. this latin term itself is a compound of the intensive prefix 're-' and 'laxare' (to loosen), from 'laxus' (loose, slack). the suffix '-able', of latin origin through french, indicates a passive capacity, thus 'releasable' literally means "capable of being loosened or set free," a meaning that has been maintained from its physical origins to its modern abstract applications concerning information, obligations, or persons.
Analysis
Structure: releas (to set free) + able (capable of)
releas is derived from the english verb 'release', which originates from old french 'relaisser', based on latin 'relaxare' (to loosen, open). able is a suffix of english origin, from latin '-abilis', denoting capacity or suitability.
Examples
the documents are not releasable to the public until the investigation concludes.
this is a releasable mechanism, allowing the safety harness to detach quickly in an emergency.
after serving his sentence, the prisoner became eligible for parole and was deemed releasable.