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Difficulty: EasyNoun and Adjective Suffixes

The technician required an adaptable power supply that could function under varying electrical loads. Which of the following is the best definition of the word adaptable?

  1. A
    A person who designs electrical equipment
  2. B
    Related to the formal legal adoption of a dependent
  3. Capable of being modified to fit new circumstancesAnswer
  4. D
    Completely rigid and resistant to change

Answer

Capable of being modified to fit new circumstances
The word 'adaptable' is formed by joining the base verb 'adapt' (meaning to adjust or modify) with the adjective suffix '-able' (meaning capable of or suitable for). Thus, the word describes something capable of being modified to fit new circumstances.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the base word and the attached suffix.
The word consists of the verb base 'adapt' and the suffix '-able'.
Deconstructing the word reveals its underlying lexical components.
2
Determine the syntactic role and semantic function of the suffix '-able'.
The suffix '-able' forms adjectives meaning 'capable of,' 'worthy of,' or 'able to be.'
Suffixes alter the base word's grammatical class and modify its core meaning.
3
Combine the meaning of the base word with the suffix.
Combining 'adapt' (to adjust or fit) with '-able' yields 'capable of adjusting or being modified.'
Morphological synthesis produces the correct contextual definition.

Key Concept

Adjective Suffix -able
Estimated Time:30s
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Topics

Noun and Adjective Suffixes

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