Exhibitable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Fit for public display or formal exhibition settings
2. Able to be presented or displayed for viewing by an audience
3. Capable of being placed in an exhibition context for public appreciation

Etymology: "Exhibitable" is a plain English formation: the verb "exhibit" with the suffix "-able" attached, meaning "capable of being" the thing the base describes. Once you know that, the word needs little explanation, though the base verb carries a longer history. "Exhibit" comes from Latin "exhibere," literally "to hold out" or "to present," built from "ex-" (out) and "habere" (to have or hold). The same Latin root gives English "habit," "prohibit," and "inhibit," which is why an exhibit is, at root, something held out for others to see. The suffix "-able" comes from Latin "-abilis," which turned verbs into adjectives meaning "able to be" or "fit for" an action. English has used it for centuries, and it attaches freely to verbs, so "exhibitable" follows the same pattern as "washable" or "readable." The word means something that can be shown publicly, such as an artwork, a collection, or a film suitable for a gallery or festival.