Accomplishables
Part of speech: noun
Definitions
- Capable of being achieved or completed successfully; able to be brought to fulfillment or realization; feasible to carry out or execute in practice
- Possessing the quality of being attainable or doable; able to be finished or realized according to plan or intent; within the realm of possibility to perform or achieve
- Suitable for successful completion or achievement; capable of being fulfilled or executed effectively; realistically feasible to accomplish or carry through
Etymology: The noun in question appears to be a modern formation derived from the verb "accomplish," which entered English in the late Middle Ages. "Accomplish" itself comes from the Old French "accomplir," meaning "to complete, fulfill," which traces back to the Latin "ad-" (to) plus "complēre" (to fill up, complete). This layering of meaning emphasizes the act of bringing something to a successful conclusion or full realization. The suffix "-able" attaches to verbs to create adjectives meaning "capable of being done," a construction that solidified in English around the 15th century. The subsequent addition of the plural noun suffix "-s" transforms the adjective into a noun indicating things that can be accomplished. Although "accomplishables" is not a standard dictionary entry, the term logically refers to goals or tasks that are capable of being achieved or completed. This kind of nominalization—turning an adjective into a plural noun—is a typical feature of English word formation, allowing speakers to discuss abstract sets or categories of items defined by a capability. The word neatly captures a conceptual category: those things within the realm of possibility to finish or fulfill. While the root verb and its adjectival form have long histories, the noun here is a creative, likely informal coinage, reflecting English's flexibility in word-building. It embodies the idea of tangible or intangible objectives that can be realized, emphasizing potential and feasibility in a collective sense.