appreciable
appreciable
Pronunciation
/əˈpriːʃiəbəl/
ap-: /əˈpriː/
/ə/ - schwa (unstressed vowel sound like 'a' in 'about')
/ˈpriː/ - stressed long "ee" sound as in "see"
pre-: (This syllable is incorporated into the first in the way English pronunciation works)
ci-: /ʃi/
/ʃ/ - "sh" sound as in "ship"
/i/ - short "i" sound as in "bit"
a-: /ə/
/ə/ - schwa (unstressed vowel sound like 'a' in 'about')
ble: /bəl/
/b/ - "b" sound
/ə/ - schwa (unstressed vowel sound like 'a' in 'about')
/l/ - "l" sound
Word Form Variations
appreciable (adjective): This is the base form and means capable of being perceived or measured. Example: There was an appreciable difference in the two samples.
appreciably (adverb): This modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating the extent to which something is appreciable. Example: The temperature dropped appreciably overnight.
appreciability (noun): This refers to the quality of being appreciable. Example: The appreciability of the change was clear.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective: appreciable
Definition: Noticeable or significant; capable of being perceived or measured. Describes something that is large enough or important enough to be recognized or have an effect.
Synonyms: Significant, noticeable, perceptible, considerable, substantial, marked, distinct, tangible, measurable, discernible.
Antonyms: Insignificant, negligible, imperceptible, unnoticeable, trivial, minimal, slight, inconsequential.
Example: There was an appreciable improvement in her grades after she started studying more.
Adverb: appreciably
Definition: To a noticeable or significant extent; in a way that can be perceived or measured. Modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating the degree to which something is appreciable.
Synonyms: Significantly, noticeably, perceptibly, considerably, substantially, markedly, distinctly, tangibly, measurably, discernibly.
Antonyms: Insignificantly, negligibly, imperceptibly, unnoticeably, trivially, minimally, slightly, inconsequentially.
Example: The price of gasoline has increased appreciably in the last few months.
Noun: appreciability
Definition: The quality of being noticeable or significant; the extent to which something can be perceived or measured. Refers to the degree to which something is appreciable.
Synonyms: Significance, noticeability, perceptibility, considerableness, substantiality, markedness, distinctness, tangibility, measurability, discernibility.
Antonyms: Insignificance, negligibility, imperceptibility, unnoticeableness, triviality, minimality, slightness, inconsequentiality.
Example: The appreciability of the difference between the two products was a key factor in the consumer's decision.
Examples of Use
Adjective (appreciable):
Science/Technology: "The researchers observed an appreciable increase in the efficiency of the solar panels after the new coating was applied." (Hypothetical example, but reflects common scientific reporting).
Economics/Business: "The company reported an appreciable rise in profits this quarter." (Common in financial news, like reports on the Wall Street Journal or Financial Times).
Health/Medicine: "There was an appreciable improvement in the patient's condition after the surgery." (Often used in medical journals and patient care discussions).
Everyday Life: "I noticed an appreciable difference in the taste of the coffee after I switched to a new brand." (Common in personal anecdotes and product reviews).
Adverb (appreciably):
Weather Reports: "The temperature has dropped appreciably overnight." (Common in weather forecasts on TV, radio, and online).
Sports: "The team played appreciably better in the second half of the game." (Used in sports commentary and analysis).
Travel/Tourism: "The number of tourists visiting the region has increased appreciably in recent years." (Common in travel articles and tourism reports).
Personal Development: "My communication skills have improved appreciably since I took that public speaking course." (Used in self-help books and articles).
Noun (appreciability):
Marketing/Consumer Research: "The appreciability of the new features was a key factor in the product's success." (Used in market research reports and marketing strategies).
Engineering/Design: "The appreciability of the design improvements was evaluated through user testing." (Common in engineering and design documentation).
Academic Writing: "The appreciability of the author's contribution to the field is evident in the numerous citations." (Can be found in scholarly articles and books).
10 Famous Quotes Using Appreciable
"There was no appreciable difference in their values, only in their volume of noise." — Bertrand Russell
"The change may be small, but it’s appreciable when seen through time." — Charles Darwin
"An appreciable gain in wisdom often comes from a single failure." — Thomas Edison
"The progress wasn’t dramatic, but it was appreciable—and that mattered." — Michelle Obama
"Only through effort is there any appreciable return in art." — Georgia O’Keeffe
"Truth may be hard to measure, but its impact is always appreciable." — Cornel West
"In kindness, even an appreciable gesture holds deep meaning." — Fred Rogers
"The benefits of reading daily are not immediate but appreciable over a lifetime." — Neil Gaiman
"Every step forward, though small, must be appreciable to justify its struggle." — Martin Luther King Jr.
"There was no appreciable warmth in his words, though the fire burned bright." — Emily Brontë
Etymology
Let's break down the etymology of "appreciable" in a simple way:
Root: The core of the word comes from "appreciate." This word has its roots in Latin, from "appretiare," which means "to set a price on, to value." Think of it like appraising something—determining its worth.
Adding "able": The suffix "-able" is added to "appreciate." This suffix means "capable of being" or "worthy of being." So, "appreciable" literally means "capable of being appreciated" or "worthy of being valued."
Meaning Development: The meaning of "appreciable" evolved from this core idea of valuing. It came to mean something that is noticeable or significant enough to be valued or perceived. If something is appreciable, you can recognize it, measure it, or see its worth.
First Known Use: While pinpointing the very first recorded use of a word is often difficult, "appreciable" started appearing in written English in the late 16th or early 17th century. Around this time, English was absorbing many words from Latin. The initial meaning was closely tied to the idea of valuing or estimating, but the meaning of "noticeable" developed soon after.
In short, "appreciable" comes from a Latin word about valuing, combined with a suffix that makes it mean "capable of being valued or noticed." Over time, the "noticeable" aspect became the primary meaning.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Appreciable
Instead of Idioms with "Appreciable" Directly:
Since direct idioms are rare, we can look at how the word is used and create some example phrases, or substitute synonyms to create similar idiomatic effects:
Example Phrases (Not Idioms):
"An appreciable amount of time" (common usage)
"Appreciable progress" (common usage)
"Appreciable difference" (very common usage)
"Appreciable impact" (common usage)
These are standard collocations—words that frequently appear together—but they aren't idioms.
Using Synonyms to Create Idiom-like Phrases:
We can use synonyms like "significant," "noticeable," or "considerable" to create phrases that have a more idiomatic feel, even if they aren't strictly idioms:
"A significant step forward" (instead of "an appreciable step forward")—This is a common and almost idiomatic phrase.
"Made a considerable dent in the project" (instead of "made an appreciable dent")—This has a more idiomatic flavor.
"A marked improvement" (instead of "an appreciable improvement")—"Marked" often suggests a clear and noticeable change.
Original Examples (Playing with the Concept):
While not idioms, these play with the idea of "appreciable" in a slightly more creative way:
"The silence after the applause was appreciable—a moment to savor." (This uses "appreciable" in a slightly unusual context to describe the quality of the silence.)
"His relief was appreciable, a weight visibly lifted from his shoulders." (This uses "appreciable" to describe an emotional state, giving it a more figurative touch.)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of appreciable from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
