Dyable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A term describing something that can be made the subject of a dye process or tinted with color that adheres to the material
2. Referring to fabrics or materials capable of accepting color through the application of dye without damage
3. Indicative of items that possess the quality of being suitable for dyeing, allowing for color transformation or enhancement

Etymology: "Dyable" is simply a spelling variant of "dyeable", meaning able to be dyed or receptive to dye. It is formed from the verb "dye" plus the suffix "-able", which attaches to verbs to mean "capable of being" whatever the verb describes. The suffix itself has a long pedigree: it descends from Latin "-abilis" and reached English through Old French "-able", so the same ending turns up in words like "readable" and "washable". The base, "dye", is the older and more interesting half. It traces back through Middle English to Old English roots, and ultimately to the Proto-Indo-European root *dʰlom, a link that comes through the Proto-Italic line. That ancient ancestry shows that the idea of coloring cloth has been expressed for thousands of years, but the practical result here is plain: "dyable" describes fabric, yarn, or any material that will take color in a dye bath.