Submittables

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Items or materials offered for consideration, approval, or acceptance, typically in response to a request or requirement; documents, proposals, or works provided to an authority for review
2. Things presented for evaluation or decision-making, such as reports, applications, or creative works given to an organization or individual for assessment
3. Objects or records handed in for inspection, judgment, or permission, often including files, assignments, or data submitted according to specified guidelines

Etymology: The noun form in question appears to be a pluralized, modern English coinage derived from the verb "submit." The root verb itself traces back to the Latin "submittere," meaning "to put under," "to yield," or "to allow." This verb entered English via Old French "submitre" in the late Middle Ages, carrying the sense of presenting or yielding something for consideration or judgment. The suffix "-able" is a productive English formation from the Latin "-abilis," meaning "capable of, susceptible of, or fit for." When added to a verb, it creates an adjective indicating that the action can be performed or that the object is suitable for the action. For example, "submit" plus "-able" becomes "submittable," meaning "capable of being submitted." Turning this adjective into a noun by pluralizing it as "submittables" is a more recent and somewhat informal development, typically found in administrative, academic, or digital contexts. It refers collectively to items, documents, or materials that are capable of being submitted, often in submission systems or portals where users upload or turn in files. This plural noun formation reflects a trend in English to nominalize adjectives to denote categories of things defined by a particular property. Though not historically deep-rooted, this formation showcases English’s flexibility in word-formation, adapting existing morphemes to meet new conceptual needs, especially in bureaucratic or technological settings. The first attestations of "submittable" in English likely appear in the late 20th or early 21st century, coinciding with the rise of digital submission processes, while the plural "submittables" is even more recent and less standardized. In summary, the term is a modern construct built from a classical verb root and a common adjectival suffix, extended into a plural noun to label a class of items defined by their eligibility for submission. It reflects the ongoing evolution of English vocabulary in response to contemporary administrative and technological practices.