vocable

[ voh-kuh-buhl ]

noun

1. a word; term; name.
2. a word considered only as a combination of certain sounds or letters, without regard to meaning.

adjective

1. capable of being spoken.

vocable

/ ˈvəʊkəbəl /

noun

1. any word, either written or spoken, regarded simply as a sequence of letters or spoken sounds, irrespective of its meaning
2. a vocal sound; vowel

adjective

1. capable of being uttered

Derived Forms

• ˈvocably, adverb

Other Words From

• voca·bly adverb
• non·voca·ble adjective noun
• un·voca·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vocable¹

1520–30; < Latin vocābulum a word, a name, equivalent to vocā ( re ) to call + -bulum noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of vocable¹

C16: from Latin vocābulum a designation, from vocāre to call

Example Sentences

The birds’ phrasings are both melodic and mechanical, cyclical and spontaneous, like the wordless vocables of scat singers.

From New York Times

Some of the songs have lyrics that can be translated into words but many others include what are called vocables - sounds that don’t have meanings like words do.

From Washington Times

There is an immense amount of positive knowledge to be acquired between the ages of ten and eighteen—rules of grammar, strings of vocables, dates, names of towns, rivers, and mountains, mathematical formulas, &c.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a pluralistic world now, and lordly Intuition—a dangerous vocable—rules over mere mental processes.

From Project Gutenberg

The philanthropic spectator suffers from no scarcity of words to express his particular attitude if he desires to do so; why then should he not leave socialists the enjoyment of their vocable?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• concept
• expression
• name
• phrase
• sound
• term