Reparable

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈɹɛp(ə)ɹəbəl/

Definitions

1. Able to be restored or fixed after suffering damage or deterioration
2. Capable of being mended or brought back to a functional state after an incident of harm
3. Possible to restore to a previous good condition after damage or harm

Etymology: "Reparable" arrived in English by way of Middle French "réparable," which in turn came from the Latin "reparābilis." That Latin adjective was built from "reparāre," meaning "to get ready again" or "to restore," and that verb was itself a compound: the prefix "re-" ("again, back") attached to "parāre," "to prepare, make ready, procure." So at its root, the idea is preparing something afresh so it can be used again. The English word carries that sense of restoration. Something reparable is one that can be put back into working order, a broken clock or a damaged road that can still be brought back to use. The Latin base "parāre" also gave English words such as "prepare" and "apparatus," so "reparable" shares its core with a family of words about getting things ready.

Synonyms: fixable, mendable, restorable, remediable, correctable

Antonyms: irreparable, unfixable, permanent, incurable, unrecoverable