Etymograph

English

conceivable

Conceivable comes from Middle English conceyvable, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *kap-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kap-1root named by Wiktionary · steps between not traced
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500conceyvable1
  3. Englishearliest quotation 2021conceivable1

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, English conceivable
  2. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 2021, Naomi Thomas and Dakin Andone, Fauci says”: “But asked by “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan…”.

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kap-Wiktionary, English conceivableroot named by Wiktionary · steps between not traced
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500conceyvableWiktionary, English conceivable
  3. Englishearliest quotation 2021conceivableWiktionary, English conceivable. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 2021, Naomi Thomas and Dakin Andone, Fauci says”: “But asked by “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *kap-

had, case, head, capital, heavy, cash, captain, catch, except, capacity, behavior, accept, chapter, escape, achieve, heavily, chase, capture, receive, cape, chef, recipe, capable, haven, occupation, chapel, cable, behave, capitol, cattle, reception, cabin, recipient, perception, capita, hawk, anticipate, anticipation, caption, captive, 176 more

Today it means

adj Capable of being conceived or imagined.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “conceivable”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kap- / conceivable

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