What does compassable mean?
Compassable is an uncommon English adjective describing something that can be compassed — either literally enclosed or surrounded within a limit, or figuratively achieved and brought to completion. The word descends from 'compass,' which in older English meant not only the drawing instrument but also the act of encircling, encompassing, or attaining an end. When applied to goals and ambitions, calling something compassable asserts that it lies within reach: with sufficient resolve or resources, it can be accomplished. Applied more concretely, it suggests a space or distance small enough to be measured out or enclosed. Because both the verb 'compass' and this derived form have largely fallen out of everyday speech, compassable carries a distinctly formal, literary flavor, lending a sentence a slightly archaic gravity. It remains useful to writers seeking precise vocabulary for attainability, though simpler synonyms such as achievable or surmountable are more widely understood today.
adjectiveCapable of being compassed — that is, able to be enclosed within a boundary or circle, or able to be achieved, accomplished, or brought about.
- Capable of being achieved or accomplished (a goal, task, or ambition that can be attained).
- Capable of being enclosed, surrounded, or circumscribed within a boundary or circle.
"No summit is compassable to a climber who refuses to turn back."
"With enough preparation and patience, even the most daunting expedition proved compassable."
"The ancient surveyors judged the estate compassable within a single day's ride around its bounds."
Barely used today, 'compassable' survives as the adjective form of one of English's oldest journey metaphors — if a goal can be 'compassed,' it lies within your reach.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of compassable
'Compassable' derives from the verb 'compass,' which entered Middle English from Old French 'compas,' ultimately rooted in Latin 'compassare,' formed from 'com-' ('together') and 'passus' ('a step'). In medieval and early modern English, 'to compass' meant to encircle, surround, or measure by steps, and by extension to contrive or achieve an end. Adding the adjectival suffix '-able' yielded 'compassable,' marking something susceptible of being compassed. Its closest relatives are 'compass' itself and the prefixed derivative 'encompass.'
Related word forms
How compassable is actually used
'Compassable' is rare and literary in modern usage; it reads as formal and somewhat old-fashioned. It appears chiefly in elevated prose describing ambitions, journeys, or boundaries, and is far less common than its base word 'compass' or the related verb 'encompass.' Writers should expect many readers not to recognize it.
Easily confused with compassable
Compassionate means feeling or showing sympathy for others, while compassable means merely capable of being achieved or enclosed.
Comparable means able to be compared or similar in quality, whereas compassable means able to be accomplished or encircled.