Surpassable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Able to be outdone in terms of excellence or ability
2. Referring to a standard or level that is not beyond reach for competitors
3. Capable of being exceeded in quality, ability, or achievement

Etymology: "Surpassable" is a plain formation: the verb "surpass" with the suffix "-able" attached. "Surpass" came into English from Old French "surpasser", meaning to go beyond or pass over, built from "sur-" (over, above) and "passer" (to pass). The suffix has a longer ancestry, descending through Latin "-bilis" and "-ābilis", which meant capable of being or deserving to be, and reaching English through Old French "-able". Its roots run back to the Proto-Indo-European root for "to step" or "go," which is the deep origin of the verb "pass" as well. The adjective therefore means "capable of being surpassed" or "able to be beaten or exceeded," which matches its modern use: a record, a score, or a skill that someone else can outdo. Because "-able" attaches freely to transitive verbs, English can generate a form like this on demand, so the word needs no separate coinage history of its own.

Synonyms: achievable, attainable

Antonyms: insurmountable, unattainable