comestible

American  

[kuh-mes-tuh-buhl] / kəˈmɛs tə bəl /

adjective

1. edible; eatable.

---

noun

1. Usually comestibles. articles of food; edibles.

   The table was spread with all kinds of comestibles.

comestible British  

/ kəˈmɛstɪbəl /

noun

1. (usually plural) food

---

adjective

1. a rare word for edible

Etymology

Origin of comestible

1475–85; < Late Latin comēstibilis, equivalent to Latin comēst ( us ), past participle of comedere to eat up ( see comedo; -ēstus for -ēs ( s ) us by analogy with gestus, ūstus, etc.; see combust) + -ibilis -ible; see eat

Explanation

Anything that you could possibly use for food is a comestible, a synonym of "edible." It can be used as a noun ("We shopped for comestibles") or an adjective ("It looked awful, but was comestible"). The word comestible, a rather formal-sounding word for food, has its roots in the Latin word comedere, which means "to eat up." Since comestible shares a background with the word consume, you will hopefully remember its meaning. Comestible was first recorded in the 15th century, and it bounced around as an adjective before becoming a noun in the 19th century.

Example Sentences

William called it the “Circuitous Cryptanalytic Comestible Contest,” and it took place all over town.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Stakes at chess must not be confounded with the favourite "Comestible."

From Chess History and Reminiscences by Bird, H. E. (Henry Edward)