C17: from Old French, from Late Latin effābilis, from Latin effārī, from ex- out + fārī to speak
effable in American English
(ˈefəbəl)
adjective
utterable; expressible
Word origin
[1630–40; ‹ F ‹ L effābilis, equiv. to eff(ārī) to speak out (ef-ef- + fārī to speak) + -ābilis-able]This word is first recorded in the period 1630–40. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: amphibian, atmosphere, ejector, precision, seesaw-able is a suffix meaning “capable of, susceptible of, fit for, tending to, given to,”associated in meaning with the word able, occurring in loanwords from Latin (laudable); used in English as a highly productive suffix to form adjectives by addition tostems of any origin (teachable; photographable)