Tolerable
/ˈtɒl.ər.ə.bəl/noun
Able to be endured or accepted without being too bad.
Did you know?The core Latin root behind *tolerable* is *tolerāre*, “to bear, endure,” from the same ancient root that also gave English *dole* and *dull*—words tied to burden, pain, and the sense of being weighed down.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tel-
“to bear, carry, support”
Classical Latin
Latin
tolerāre
“to bear, endure, support”
Late Latin
Latin
tolerābilis
“able to be endured”
Old French
Old French
tolerable
“tolerable, bearable”
Middle English
English
tolerable
“capable of being endured; passably acceptable”
Modern English
English
tolerable
“not too bad; acceptable enough”