Absorbability

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /əbˌsɔɹb.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/

Definitions

1. The property of a material to effectively take in and retain various substances like liquids or gases
2. The capability to integrate diverse elements, particularly fluids, within a given medium or surface
3. The quality of a material or substance that allows it to soak up or hold liquids, gases, or other materials within its structure

Etymology: "Absorbability" is a late, mechanical formation: the verb "absorb" with the suffix "-ability," which turns an adjective ending in "-able" into a noun meaning "the quality of being able to" do something. The verb reached English through Middle French "absorber" from Latin "absorbere," meaning "to swallow up" or "to suck in," built from "ab-" ("away") and "sorbere" ("to suck up, slurp"). Latin "sorbere" is also the source of the English word "sorbet," which came through Italian and once named a cold drink. The suffix has a longer route. Latin "-abilis" attached to verbs to mean "able to be" something, and it passed through Middle French "-able" into Middle English. The Latin noun-forming suffix "-bilitas" (later "-abilitas") gave English "-ability," so "absorbability" joins a large family of words such as "solubility" and "permeability" built the same way.

Synonyms: absorbance, permeability

Antonyms: impermeability