English
conceivable
Conceivable comes from Middle English conceyvable, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *kap-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kap-root as named · steps between not traced
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500conceyvable
- Englishearliest quotation 2021conceivable
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kap-root as named · steps between not traced
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500conceyvable
- Englishearliest quotation 2021conceivable
Earliest quotation: 2021, Naomi Thomas and Dakin Andone, Fauci says”: “But asked by “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan…”
Formed from conceive + -able
Proto-Indo-European *kap-
Latin concipio ‘to devise, to conceive’
Old French concevoir ‘to conceive (an idea)’
Middle English conceyven ‘to become pregnant’
English conceive
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kap-
had, case, head, capital, heavy, cash, captain, catch, except, capacity, behavior, accept, chapter, escape, achieve, heavily, chase, capture, receive, cape, chef, recipe, capable, haven, occupation, chapel, cable, behave, capitol, cattle, reception, cabin, recipient, perception, capita, hawk, anticipate, anticipation, caption, captive, 177 more
Today it means
adj Capable of being conceived or imagined.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kap- / conceivable