papable

[pey-puh-buhl]

adjective

1. suitable or likely to become pope.

Other Word Forms

• papability noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of papable¹

1585–95; < Middle French < Italian papabile, equivalent to papa pope + -bile -ble

Example Sentences

PHOTOS: The buzz around Simone Biles' return is papable.

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The threat was too papable to be mistaken, nor was he sufficiently conversant with the world of policy to detect its fallacy.

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These wants, papable as they are in times of peace, become doubly pressing in time of war.

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Lord Bacon somewhere describes a certain candidate for the Chair of St. Peter as being 'papable.'

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When Bacon wrote, one to be 'papable' must have been born in lawful wedlock; must have no children nor grandchildren living; must not have a kinsman already in the Conclave; must be already a Cardinal; all which facts this single word sums up.

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