transmittable
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Meaning
(of a disease, quality, or information) able to be passed on from one person or organism to another.
Structure
Usage
the virus is highly transmittable through airborne droplets.
ensuring data is securely transmittable over networks is a key concern.
some genetic traits are transmittable from parent to offspring.
Etymology
The word transmittable is built upon the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send," which itself has deep Proto-Indo-European roots in a base related to exchanging or moving. The prefix trans-, meaning "across," was added to form the Latin compound transmittere, literally "to send across." This concept entered English via Old French as "transmit." The modern adjective was formed by appending the suffix -able, of Latin origin, to this verb, creating a term that literally means "capable of being sent across." This etymological journey from a physical act of sending to the modern abstract sense of passing on a disease or information illustrates a clear semantic evolution from concrete transfer to metaphorical conveyance.
Analysis
- trans: from latin, a prefix meaning "across," "beyond," or "through." - mitt: from latin mittere, meaning "to send." - able: from latin -abilis, an adjective-forming suffix meaning "capable of," "fit for," or "worthy of being acted upon."