Obstructable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Able to be obstructed or impeded in its functioning Capable of being hindered in achieving a particular aim Possible to be blocked or prevented from progressing in any aspect
2. Capable of being blocked or prevented from progressing successfully
3. Susceptible to obstruction or interference that limits its effectiveness

Etymology: Obstructable is a plain formation: the verb "obstruct" plus the suffix "-able", meaning "capable of being" something. "Obstruct" comes from the Latin "obstruere", "to build against" or "to block up", formed from "ob-" ("against, in the way") and "struere" ("to pile up, build"), the same Latin root that gives English "structure" and "construct." So the word literally describes something that can be built up against and thereby blocked. English took "obstruct" in the 1400s, and "-able" was attached to it later, as it is to many verbs. Because "-able" words are formed freely, obstructable is easy to coin and understand, though it is far less common than "obstructive" or its relatives. Dictionaries record it chiefly as an adjective meaning open to being blocked, which fits its construction exactly.

Antonyms: unobstructable