audible

Where does the word "audible" come from? It comes from Latin audire, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1500s).

Audible’s story begins in Latin: audire meant “to hear.” The root of 'audio', 'audit' and 'audition'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as audibilis. Able to be heard, from audire. It reached English by 1500s as audible. Settled as the English word for something loud enough to be heard. Today, audible means loud enough to be heard.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient audire "to hear", the root of 'audio', 'audit' and 'audition'.
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · medieval audibilis "able to be heard", able to be heard, from audire.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s audible "loud enough to be heard", settled as the English word for something loud enough to be heard.