Utterable

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Possible to express oneself vocally and convey thoughts clearly through speech
2. Able to be pronounced clearly by voice without difficulty
3. Fit to be articulated aloud in words or sounds

Etymology: "Utterable" is a straightforward formation: the verb "utter" with the suffix "-able," meaning "capable of being." Its history is that of its two parts. "Utter" comes from Middle English "utteren," built on the adverb "ut" ("out"), so the word originally meant to put something outward, which is why speaking aloud is its main sense. The suffix arrived through Old French "-able," itself descended from Latin "-abilis," which attached to verbs to mean "able to be done." The combination is a regular English one: English took "-able" on native verbs readily, so "utterable" needed no special coinage, only the attachment of the suffix to "utter." Its sense follows directly from that, meaning something that can be spoken aloud without difficulty.

Synonyms: expressible, voiced, articulable, speakable, pronounceable

Antonyms: inexpressible, unspeakable, unutterable, inarticulable, unvoiced