acceptable English · revision 6742

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1386|origins=la accipio}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əkˈsɛp.tə.bəl/, /ækˈsɛp.tə.bəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fro|acceptable|t=pleasant, agreeable]] and directly [[m|la-lat|acceptābilis|t=worthy of acceptance]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|la|accepto|alt=acceptāre|t=to take or receive willingly]] (see [[accept]]).^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Pleasing, welcome, worthy of being gladly received: about 1386 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The core idea, according to Etymonline, is of being sure of a welcome.^(Etymonline) From pleasing it weakened to merely satisfactory or adequate, and to tolerable.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) The catchphrase ''the acceptable face of'' something, its presentable side, is from 1981.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1386 – pleasing, welcome.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1981 – the acceptable face of.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Good enough to satisfy a need or standard; [[satisfactory]] or adequate.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Worthy of being accepted; pleasing or welcome.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # [[tolerable|alt=Tolerable]] or allowed: ''an acceptable risk''.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[acceptability]]

+ * [[acceptably]]

+ * [[acceptableness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[accept]]

+ * [[acceptance]]

+ * [[unacceptable]]

+ * [[capable]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}