Drapabilities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The qualities or characteristics that allow fabrics or materials to hang or fold smoothly and gracefully; the measure of a textile’s ability to conform softly around contours; attributes influencing how cloth responds to manipulation and movement
2. The inherent features enabling cloth or similar substances to fall or arrange themselves with elegance and fluidity; an assessment of a material’s flexibility and softness in forming pleats or wrinkles; the traits determining how fabric behaves when draped or worn
3. The aspects defining how well a material or fabric can be positioned to create folds or gathers naturally and attractively; the evaluation of a textile’s pliability and ease of shaping; the properties affecting the manner in which cloth settles when hung or wrapped around objects

Etymology: "Drapabilities" is the plural of "drapability," a noun meaning the quality of a cloth that makes it hang well. The word is built from "drape," which came into English from Old French "drap" (cloth), with the suffix "-ability" attached, the same ending found in words like "washability" and "flexibility." The suffix comes from Latin "-abilis," meaning "able to be," so the whole word literally means something like "the ability to be draped," describing how well a fabric falls into folds. Because the plural simply counts several such qualities, "drapabilities" refers to the different ways that cloths of different weights, weaves, and fibres can hang. Tailors and textile designers use the singular and plural forms when comparing fabrics side by side.

Synonyms: foldability, flexibility

Antonyms: stiffness, rigidity