Numberable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Capable of being counted or enumerated ; able to be expressed or represented by a specific quantity ; capable of being quantified in amount or number
2. Able to have its elements or units counted ; susceptible to being assigned a numerical value ; possible to determine by enumeration or measurement
3. Describing something that can be tallied or counted precisely ; suitable for numerical representation ; able to be measured or calculated in terms of quantity or total count

Etymology: "Numberable" is a plain formation: the noun "number," with the suffix "-able" attached, meaning "capable of being." Combined, it describes something that can be counted or assigned a quantity. The "-able" suffix came into English through French from the Latin "-abilis," and it has been attached to English words freely for centuries, which is why it appears on so many everyday adjectives. The base word "number" traces back through Old French "nombre" to Latin "numerus," meaning a count or quantity. So the word combines a very old idea of counting with a flexible ending that turns the noun into a description of what can be counted. Its meaning stays close to the literal sense of the parts, with no major shift along the way.