Repayable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Able to be paid back or returned, usually referring to money or debt
2. Describes something that can be refunded or reimbursed after being received
3. Indicates the possibility of returning an amount owed or compensating for a loan

Etymology: "Repayable" is a plain formation: the verb "repay" with the suffix "-able," meaning "capable of being" or "due to be" whatever the verb names. So a repayable loan is one that is due to be paid back. The suffix has a long journey behind it. It descends from Latin "-bilis," which attached to verbs to form adjectives of possibility or obligation, and it reached English by way of Old French "-able," which the Normans brought with them. Middle English then adopted it freely, and English speakers went on to attach it to almost any verb, so "repay" plus "-able" is one of thousands of combinations that the suffix made possible. The verb "repay" itself is English, built from the prefix "re-" meaning "back" and "pay," so the whole word is built from English parts on a Latin-derived ending.

Synonyms: due, payable

Antonyms: forgiven, unpayable