questionable English · revision 39796

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1443, Highland Papers}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈkwɛst͡ʃənəbl̩/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It was formed [[af|en|question|-able]] within the language.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(Dictionary.com 2016) According to the OED its first example is based on the noun ''question'', and later uses on the verb.^(OED 2026) Johnson (1755) also derived it from ''question''.^(Johnson 1755)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of a thing or fact, open to question or dispute; doubtful, uncertain: 1443, in a document printed in the ''Highland Papers''.^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) Merriam-Webster gives the 15th century,^(MWU 2024) while Etymonline dates the word to the 1580s, with this sense from about 1600,^(Etymonline) and Dictionary.com to 1580–90.^(Dictionary.com 2016)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 16th and 17th centuries the suffix ''-able'' sometimes kept its full sense, "able to be questioned": of a question that may be asked (1590), of a person who may be questioned (1603, in ''Hamlet''), and of a place where questions may easily be asked (1608); all of these are now obsolete.^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) Etymonline gives "that may be interrogated" as the 1580s sense.^(Etymonline) From 1639 to 1685 it meant liable to be called to account in law.^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) Johnson (1755) defined it as doubtful, disputable.^(Johnson 1755) The disparaging sense, of doubtful character or not clearly honest or respectable, is recorded from 1788 in the OED;^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) Etymonline dates it to 1806.^(Etymonline) In American sports writing since 1941 a player described as ''questionable'' is unlikely to play, usually because of injury.^(OED 2026)^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1443 – open to question or dispute; doubtful.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1590 – of a question, that may be asked (obsolete).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1603 – of a person, that may be questioned, in ''Hamlet'' (obsolete).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1611 – of doubtful or obscure meaning (obsolete, rare).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1639 – liable to be called to account in law (obsolete).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1788 – of doubtful honesty, respectability or quality.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1941 – (US sports) unlikely to play in a coming game.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Open to [[doubt]] or dispute; not certain or proven: ''It is questionable whether the plan will save any money.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Of doubtful [[honesty]], [[morality]] or [[respectability]]; [[dubious]]: ''a lawyer with questionable methods''.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # Of doubtful value, quality or authority: ''a questionable translation''.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # (US, sports) Of a player, unlikely to take part in a forthcoming game, usually because of [[injury]].^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[questionableness]]

+ * [[questionably]]

+ * [[unquestionable]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[question]]

+ * [[doubtful]]

+ * [[dubious]]

+ * [[query]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}