Something that is permitted or accepted by rules or laws; allowed to happen or be done.
From Middle English 'allowen' (to approve) combined with the suffix '-able' (capable of). The root comes from Old French 'allouer,' possibly from Latin 'allocare' (to assign), which combined Germanic roots meaning 'to place' with allowance concepts.
This word shows how English legal and formal language developed—'allowable' became the official way to mark what's permitted, which is why you see it constantly in laws, regulations, and official documents. It's the bridge between the permission someone gives you and what the rules actually say you can do.
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