Docious

/ˈdoʊʃəs/ adjective

Definition

Capable of being taught or trained; apt to learn; teachable (an archaic or rare term).

Etymology

From Latin 'docibilis,' derived from 'docere' meaning 'to teach.' The word entered Middle English but gradually fell out of use as 'docile' became the preferred form in English.

Kelly Says

This word is a linguistic fossil—it lost out to its cousin 'docile' probably because 'docious' sounds a bit clunky compared to the smoother Latin-derived alternative that became standard.

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