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conversable

conversable

8.3
Someone who knows a subject well enough to talk about it
  • adjective
  • /kənˈvɜrsəbl/
: conocedor
  • The professor expects students to be conversable with the main theories before the seminar.

Examples

  • Although not an expert, he is quite conversable in the basics of computer programming.

  • She is conversable with modern art and can discuss many famous painters.

  • She is very conversable about modern art.

  • Is John conversable on the topic of climate change?

  • She is conversable about modern art and can passionately talk about various artists.

  • He is quite conversable regarding the basics of computer programming, making it easy to have discussions with him.

  • The professor wants her students to be conversable with the key theories discussed in class before the seminar.

Synonyms

knowledgeable
vsconversable
80 4.1

A person who has learned a lot about a subject

is more about being able to talk about a subject rather than general education
well-informed
vsconversable
50 3.5

A person who knows a lot about a subject or the world

is focused on having enough depth to discuss topics intelligently
conversant
vsconversable
5 6.9

Familiar with a subject through experience or study

is about knowing enough to discuss the subject intelligently

Antonyms

102 4.4

Not known or seen before

How Knowledgeable

expert
165 3.5
knowledgeable
80 4.1
conversable
8.3
familiar
530 2.8
acquainted
94 3.9

Surface Forms

conversable positive

Morphology

conversable = converse + converse + converse + converse (transparent) = converse + able

Formation is the productive verb 'converse' + the adjectival suffix '-able', yielding 'able to converse/about', which directly supports the sense 'knowledgeable about' as 'able to discuss'.

Etymology

Conversable comes from the same root convers- as conversation and converse, which once meant 'live with' or 'deal with' something. So to be conversable with a subject is to be familiar enough to discuss it clearly and intelligently.