2022-02-16
ศัพท์ น่าสับสน - Set – E - eatable & edible
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ความหมาย อาจผันแปร ตาม ตำแหน่ง/หน้าที่ ในประโยค
Dictionary.com:
ออกเสียง eatable = “EE-tuh-buhl”
ออกเสียง edible = “ED-uh-buhl”
Dictionary of Problem Words and Expressions:
eatable & edible
These words, both in standard usage,
have a shared meaning of “not poisonous or harmful,”
“fitto be eaten”:
“This food does not look appetizing, but it is eatable (or edible).”
Edible is more formal and somewhat more refined thaneatable,
a word often used in plural:
“The sack contained a quantity of various eatables.”
Edible is preferrable in a statement
such as “These berries were once thought poisonous, but they areedible.”
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Usage Notes
Putting 'Edible' and 'Eatable' on the Table
Giving you something to chew on.
What to Know
Edible and eatable both refer to something
that is "ableto be eaten,"
but edible is usually used to describe
something that is safe to eat, without regard to taste,
while eatable often describes something
that has some level of acceptable flavor.
Likewise, inedible often refers to something toxic or unsafe, while uneatable refers to food that tastes bad.
'Edible' vs. 'Eatable'
Edible and eatable can be, and have been for centuries,
used interchangeably to describe things that are fit
or able to be eaten.
Usage, over many years, however, has inevitably slightly changed
how the words are used, resulting in nuances of meaning.
In particular, edible has come to indicate
that something is safe to ingest but with no indication of how it tastes, whereas eatable is most often used to indicate
whether something that can be eaten
is at least palatable or tolerable to the taste.
To accurately convey to a finicky eater
the quality of food being considered for consumption,
we must be discerning in our word choice.
But considering actual usage of edible and eatable,
not everyone seems to be aware of the subtle semantic distinction
between the two.
So, please partake in our course on the words.
Edible is a late 16th-century borrowing from Late Latin ediblis,
which is a derivative of the Latin verb edere, meaning "to eat."
As mentioned, edible (which is the commoner of the two words)
is most often used to indicate that something is suitable and safe to eat.
Nontoxic and nonpoisonous items found in nature
that can be used for food,
such as edible flower petals, insects, and berries
—or the edible bird's nest used in soups
—are correctly labeled "edible."
Edible is also used frequently as an adjective
confirming that a processed item,
which seems like it shouldn't be ingested,
can be without detriment to the body
—for example,
those "edible" fancy cake decorations
made of gum paste,
"photo paper," or wax,
along with those metallic decorative balls.
The English verb eat (from Old English etan)
and the suffix -able coalesced
to form eatable sometime during the 14th century.
The adjective is generally defined as "fit or able to be eaten,"
but over time, it developed a specific meaning
suggesting so-so palatability ("It's not great, but it's eatable").
'Edible' and 'Eatable' as Nouns
Related noun forms of edible and eatable
were cooked up in the 17th century
and reflect the meanings of their derivatives:
edible often serves as the word for something suitable or safe to eat
but has general use as well that is equal to eatable;
eatable mostly serves as the word for anything that can be eaten.
Both nouns are usually used in their plural forms.
In the late 20th century, use of the noun edible was stoked
when it started being applied to any of various food items containing THC,
which is the chief intoxicant in marijuana.
Here's an early example of edible referring to marijuana-packed eatables.
Eatable is also used in this sense.
It is currently not very common, but its usage is growing
and we are chewing onentering it.
Although the adjectives edible and eatable have distinct connotations,
edible is frequently—and acceptably—
used in contexts in which eatable would be the more appropriate word because taste is being described
without mentionof safety of consumption
(although potential gagging might be hinted at).
The substitution is likely from the general familiarity
with edible in comparison to the infrequently encountered eatable.
'Inedible' vs. 'Uneatable'
A penultimate note:
both adjectives, edible and eatable, have negative forms
that warn that something is not to be consumed
in order to prevent vomiting, illness, or death,
or general revulsion or repugnance.
They are inedible, nonedible, and uneatable.
Like their base words, they are interchangeable
but have subtle differences in meaning.
Something described as inedible or nonedible
implies it should be avoided because it is toxic or poisonous.
On the other hand,
something uneatable implies it is unappetizing
—perhaps from being overly seasoned or spiced
(especially with one of the common culprits: salt, garlic, or onion),
overly fatty or greasy, or undercooked or very overcooked
—and should be avoided;
however, if you're willing, try it without cringing (it's not inedible).
Ideally, we would like to see a clear differentiation
in the uses of edible and eatable,
but considering actual usage evidence,
this doesn't seem possible
—so eaters be leery of what adjective you hear before partaking.
And if you're not sure, take a small bite, or better yet,
ask a friend to or watch someone else try it—and wait for their reaction.
