blamabel

Blamabel is an English adjective meaning deserving of blame; liable to be blamed; blameworthy. The form is primarily found in historical or dialect writings, and today it is rare in general usage. In modern English, speakers more commonly write blamable or blameworthy, while blamabel appears chiefly in preserved texts or dialectal passages.

Etymology: Blamabel derives from the noun blame, combined with the suffix -able, with evident influence from Old French blâmable. The spelling blamabel reflects older English orthography in which -able endings sometimes appeared as -abel. In effect, blamabel is a variant of the same word family as blamable.

Usage notes: As with other -able adjectives, blamabel can be used attributively (a blamabel act) or predicatively (the act was blamabel). Because it is uncommon in contemporary writing, usage editors often mark it as archaic, dialectal, or historical. When clarity is desired, prefer blamable or blameworthy.

Synonyms and related terms: blameworthy, culpable, reproachable. Antonym: blameless.