acceptabilis

Acceptabilis is a Latin adjective meaning "worthy of acceptance" or "acceptable." It is formed from the verb accipere, “to accept,” with the suffix -abilis, which conveys the sense of being able to be acted upon or considered in a certain way. In classical and medieval Latin, acceptabilis appears in philosophical, legal, and ecclesiastical contexts to describe things that are permissible, allowable, or agreeable within a given framework. The precise meaning can vary with context, ranging from ethical permissibility to doctrinal or liturgical acceptance.

In taxonomy, acceptabilis has been used as a Latin species epithet in the scientific names of some organisms. When employed in this way, the epithet commonly reflects the describing author’s assessment that the species was readily acceptable or straightforward to recognize relative to related taxa, though the specific rationale is not standardized and depends on the individual taxonomist and group.

Today, the term is largely encountered in historical, linguistic, or scholarly Latin texts rather than as a living, widely used term in everyday language. It may appear in discussions of Latin grammar, medieval scholastic writings, or historic scientific naming practices, where its sense of acceptability or permissibility informs interpretation.