connotation - What does "undoable" mean?


When something is undoable, does it mean that it has the ability to be reverted back to its previous state or does it mean that it's not feasible?



I broke something on my computer and a fix is undoable. :(
I broke something on my computer but it's undoable. :)




Answer



Both, actually. In the sense that something can be reverted to its prior state, the word is formed by joining undo and -able, literally something that is able to be undone. In the sense that something cannot be done, the word is formed by joining un- and doable, literally something that is not doable. While the two etymologies converge at un- + do + -able, the order in which the affixation occurs is the important thing.


Source: Wiktionary and personal experience


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