Restrainable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Able to be restricted or maintained within limits by force or authority
2. Capable of being governed or held in check through various means or influences
3. Capable of being kept under control or prevented from exceeding certain bounds

Etymology: "Restrainable" is a plain formation: the verb "restrain" with the suffix "-able" added to it, producing an adjective meaning something that can be held back, checked or kept within limits. "Restrain" itself came into English from Old French "restreindre," which in turn derives from Latin "restringere," meaning to draw tight or bind back, from "re-" (back) and "stringere" (to draw tight). The idea of pulling something tight and holding it there runs through the verb's whole history, and the suffix "-able" simply turns that action into a quality a thing may or may not possess. The suffix "-able" comes from Latin "-abilis," which attached to verbs to mean capable of being acted upon. English has used it productively for centuries, so combining it with "restrain" follows a well-worn pattern rather than a single moment of invention.

Synonyms: controllable, manageable

Antonyms: uncontrollable