Gradables

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Pertaining to adjectives or intensifiers that can exist in varying degrees
2. describing qualities that can be measured in a gradient or scale
3. referring to terms that allow for comparative or superlative forms to express differences in intensity or amount

Etymology: Gradable begins with a staircase. Its root, "grade," comes from Latin "gradus," meaning a step, the same source as "degree," "progress," and "graduate." Something gradable is one that can be placed on a series of steps, rising or falling by degrees rather than sitting in a single fixed state. The ending "-able" comes from Latin "-abilis," meaning capable of being, and reached English through French. Attached to "grade," it produced a word meaning capable of being arranged in grades or degrees. The technical sense used in linguistics follows the same logic: the word describes qualities that admit of more or less.

Synonyms: measurable, quantifiable

Antonyms: non-gradable