understandable
Meaning
Able to be understood; comprehensible.
(of behavior or feelings) Able to be sympathized with; reasonable.
Structure
Usage
The instructions were written in simple, understandable language.
Her anger is perfectly understandable given the circumstances.
The technical report was not understandable to a general audience.
Etymology
The word 'understandable' is built upon the core verb 'understand', which itself has a fascinating history. In Old English, 'understandan' literally meant "to stand in the midst of" or "to stand between," implying a position of close engagement or comprehension among facts or ideas. The suffix '-able', derived from Latin '-abilis' via Old French, was later attached to form the adjective, shifting the meaning from the act of comprehension to the quality of being comprehensible. Thus, the modern sense evolved from a physical metaphor of standing under or among concepts to grasp them, into the abstract quality of something being clear or justifiable enough to be grasped by the mind.
Analysis
under (Old English): A prefix meaning "beneath, among, between, during". stand (Old English): A root meaning "to stand, remain in place, exist". able (Latin via Old French): A suffix forming adjectives meaning "capable of, fit for, tending to".