Decoratable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Something that is capable of being adorned or enhanced through decoration
2. Referring to an item or environment that allows for the addition of stylistic or ornamental details
3. Able to be embellished with ornamental elements or artistic touches

Etymology: "Decoratable" is a plain formation: the verb "decorate" with the suffix "-able" added, meaning capable of being decorated or open to embellishment. "Decorate" comes from the Latin "decoratus," the past participle of "decorare," meaning to adorn or make fitting, which is the root of "decorum" and "decor" as well. The suffix "-able" comes from Latin "-abilis" through Old French, and English has attached it freely to verbs since the Middle English period, so it can be applied to almost any verb that takes an object. Because the suffix does most of the work, the word is best understood as a sum of its parts. Its sense is simply the opposite of "undecorated" in the sense of a surface or object that can take ornament, such as a plain wall, a cake, or a bare room. Dictionaries record it as an adjective, and it is most often used in practical or commercial contexts, where it describes what can be dressed up or customized.

Synonyms: embellishable, ornamentable