Saturday, February 17, 2018

Merriam-Webster Word of the Day - Biddable


 
WORD OF THE DAY
February 17, 2018
 
 

 
 
 
biddable Audio pronunciation
 
adjective | BID-uh-bul  
 
Definition
 
:
easily led, taught, or controlled : docile
 
:
capable of being bid
 
Scroll down for more about biddable
 
 
 
WORD GAMES AND QUIZZES: WEEKLY CHALLENGE
 
 
 
Namesakes Word Quiz
 
When names become words and then we ask you about them.
 
  PLAY NOW  
 
Nailed this quiz? We have plenty more to try!  TAKE ME THERE  >
 
Plus:   SEE WHAT LOOKUPS ARE TRENDING NOW!  >
 
 
 
Did You Know?
 
A biddable individual is someone you can issue an order to—that is, someone who will do your bidding. The word dates to the late 18th century, and currently our earliest evidence for it is a quote in the Scottish National Dictionary. There are a number of words in English that do what biddable does. Tractable, amenable, and docile are three of them. Biddable is often applied to children and indicates a ready, constant inclination to follow orders, requests, and suggestions. Tractable suggests characteristics that make for easy guiding, leading, ordering, or managing; its antonym intractable (as in "intractable problems") is more common. Amenable indicates a disposition to be agreeable or complaisant as well as a lack of assertive independence. Docile can stress a disposition to submit, either due to guidance and control or to imposition and oppression.
 
 
Examples of BIDDABLE
 
"Unfailingly sweet and biddable (he never put his teeth on another creature—not even when he was bitten on the snout by a friend's ten-week-old puppy), we almost doubted his full canine credentials. No pack instincts? No resource guarding? No."
Mona Charen, The National Review, 23 Nov. 2016
 
"Because of the lack of documentation, the audit couldn't directly determine whether the project met a goal of awarding 60 percent of the biddable work to local firms, and 20 percent to small businesses."
Ben van der Meer, The Sacramento Business Journal, 5 Dec. 2017
 
Name That Antonym
 
Fill in the blanks to complete an antonym of biddable: o _ _ t _ ep _ ro _ s.
 
VIEW THE ANSWER  >
 
 
 
 
MERCH
 
 
Merriam-Webster Swag!
 
Show off your smarts with M-W gear
 
 
 
 
 
  MORE WORD FUN:
 
      TRENDING NOW >
 
      WORDS AT PLAY >

No comments:

Post a Comment

Authors of comments and posts are solely responsible for their statements. Please email MiddletownInsider@gmail.com for questions or concerns. This blog, (and any site using the blogger platform), does not and cannot track the source of comments. While opinions and criticism are fine, they are subject to moderator discretion; slander and vile attacks of individuals will not to be tolerated. Middletown Insider retains the right to deny any post or comment without explanation.

Popular Posts