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passable

 - 3 dictionary results

pass⋅a⋅ble

  [pas-uh-buhl, pah-suh-]
Use passable in a Sentence
–adjective
1. capable of being passed through, beyond, or over; fit to be traversed, penetrated, crossed, etc., as a road, forest, or stream.
2. adequate; acceptable: a passable knowledge of French.
3. capable of being circulated legally or having a valid currency, as a coin.
4. capable of being or liable to be ratified or enacted: passable legislation.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < MF; see pass, -able

Related forms:
pass⋅a⋅ble⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
2. presentable, respectable, allowable, tolerable, fair.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To passable
pass·a·ble   (pās'ə-bəl)   
adj.  

  1. That can be passed, traversed, or crossed; navigable: a passable road.

  2. Acceptable for general circulation: passable currency.

  3. Satisfactory but not outstanding; adequate: The actors gave passable performances but the singers seemed unrehearsed.

  4. That can be legislated: a passable bill.

pass'a·ble·ness n., pass'a·bly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

passable 
1413, "that may be crossed," from pass (v.) + -able. Sense of "tolerable," is first attested 1489.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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