Arability

/ˌɛrəˈbɪləti/ noun

Definition

The quality or capability of land to be plowed and cultivated for growing crops.

Etymology

From 'arable' (from Latin 'arabilis,' meaning 'able to be plowed,' from 'arare' meaning 'to plow') + the suffix '-ity' (quality or state). This creates an abstract noun describing the plowability of soil.

Kelly Says

Medieval land records obsessively measured arability—determining which fields could be plowed and which couldn't determined taxation, wealth, and political power. It was one of the most important economic calculations in feudal Europe.

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