ausable
Very Rare / ArchaicFormal, Literary, Archaic
Definition
Meaning
Capable of being used; usable; suitable for use.
Fit to be drawn upon or utilized, often implying practicality or serviceability. Historically used in legal and formal contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is an archaic or rare variant of 'usable'. Its primary modern occurrence is in the proper noun 'Ausable River' or 'Ausable Chasm' (from French 'à sauble', meaning 'with sand'). As an adjective, it is largely obsolete and may confuse modern readers.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference as the word is equally archaic in both varieties. The proper noun 'Ausable' (referring to the river/chasm) is specific to North America.
Connotations
As a common adjective, it connotes an old-fashioned or literary style. As a proper noun, it is a geographical identifier.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency as a common adjective in contemporary corpora for both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] + ausable + [for NP][be] + ausable + [to-inf]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in contemporary use.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used in modern business contexts.
Academic
May appear in historical texts or studies of archaic language.
Everyday
Virtually never used; 'usable' is the standard term.
Technical
Not used in modern technical registers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The old mechanism, though rusty, was still deemed ausable by the craftsman.
- He argued the funds were ausable for the church's restoration.
American English
- The pioneer's journal described the land as ausable for farming.
- The court found the evidence to be ausable in the proceeding.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This old tool is not very ausable anymore.
- Despite its age, the manuscript's information remains ausable for researchers.
- The lawyer questioned whether the precedent was still ausable in the modern case.
- The archivist determined which of the 18th-century ledgers were still ausable for the historical audit.
- Critics debated whether the archaic terminology was ausable in a contemporary translation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A USE-ABLE' object is one you can use. The spelling 'ausable' is just an old-fashioned way of writing it.
Conceptual Metaphor
TOOL IS AUSABLE (archaic version of TOOL IS USABLE).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with географическое название 'Ausable River'.
- Не путать с современным 'usable' (годный к употреблению).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'ausable' in modern writing instead of 'usable'.
- Mispronouncing it /ˈɔːsəbəl/ based on spelling.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate description of the word 'ausable' in modern English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is an archaic or very rare spelling of 'usable'. You should almost always use 'usable' in modern writing.
It is pronounced similarly to 'usable': /ɔːˈzeɪbəl/ (UK) or /ɔˈzeɪbəl/ (US). The 'au' is like the 'au' in 'cause'.
You are most likely to encounter it as part of the proper name 'Ausable River' or 'Ausable Chasm' in New York State, USA. As a common adjective, it appears only in very old texts.
No. For all practical purposes, learn and use the word 'usable'. Knowing 'ausable' is only useful for recognising it in historical contexts or proper nouns.