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Origin and history of viable

viable(adj.)

1823, "capable of living, likely to live," from French viable "capable of life" (1530s), from vie "life" (from Latin vita "life," from PIE root *gwei- "to live") + -able. Originally of newborn infants; generalized sense of "capable of continued existence" is recorded by 1848. Related: Viably.

With Dr. Beck we have adopted this word from the French, as we no word as expressive in our language, Dr. Smith's term rearable not being sufficiently definite. [R.E. Griffith, "Remarks on Infanticide," Philadelphia Journal of the Medical and Physical Sciences, May and August 1827]
Not much to their credit, English doctors and lawyers have tried to naturalize the French viable, 'likely to live', from vie, a corruption of vita. Who, at first sight, would not suppose that viable must be connected with via? Vivable would have been much better; or, if it were not dark enough, there is vitable, which does not lack the support of analogy. [Fitzedward Hall, "Modern English," 1873]

also from 1823

Entries linking to viable

inviable(adj.)

1909, in biology, from in- (1) "not" + viable. Related: Inviability.

non-viable(adj.)

applied to a fetus too young to maintain independent life, by 1821, from French non-viable (by 1813 in the Code Napoléon); see non- + viable.

It is an established fact, that under the fifth month no foetus can be born alive—from the fifth to the seventh it may come into the world alive, but cannot maintain existence. The French term these non viable. We may designate them non-rearable, or more properly immature—in distinction to those between the seventh and the ninth month, which may be reared, and are termed premature. [John Gordon Smith, M.D., "The Principles of Forensic Medicine," London, 1821] 
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feasible
"capable of being done, accomplished or carried out," mid-15c., from Anglo-French faisible, from Old French faisable "possible, that may be done; easy, convenient," from fais-, stem of faire "do, make," from Latin facere "to make, do, perform" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put").
practicable
1670s, "capable of being performed or affected," from French pratiquable (1590s), from pratiquer "to practice," from Medieval Latin practicare "to practice," from Late Latin practicus, ultimately from Greek (see practical). By 1710 as "capable of being actually used." Possible n
niacin
It was suggested by the American Medical Association as a more commercially viable name than nicotinic acid....
flamen
The only viable comparanda are found in [Germanic], but they show root-final (or suffixal) *-d~. [de Vaan]...
abortion
1540s, "the expulsion of the fetus before it is viable," originally of deliberate as well as unintended miscarriages; from...
vie
1560s, "to bet, make a bet," (literally "make a vie, the noun attested from 1530s in cards), especially in card-playing, "to wager the value of one's hand against an opponent's," shortened form of Middle English envie "make a challenge," from Old French envier "compete (against),
promulgate
"make known by open declaration, publish, announce" (a decree, news, etc.), 1520s, from Latin promulgatus, past participle of promulgare "make publicly known, propose openly, publish," probably from pro "forth" (see pro-) + mulgere "to milk" (see milk (n.)), used metaphorically f
oligarchy
"form of government in which supreme power is vested in a small exclusive class," 1570s, from French oligarchie (14c.), from Latinized form of Greek oligarkhia "government by the few," from stem of oligos "few, small, little" (a word of uncertain origin) + -arkhia, from arkhein "
sepulchre
also sepulcher, c. 1200, sepulcre, "tomb, burial place," especially the cave where Jesus was buried outside Jerusalem (Holy Sepulcher or Saint Sepulcher), from Old French sepulcre, sepulchre, "tomb; the Holy Sepulchre" (11c.), from Latin sepulcrum (also, erroneously, sepulchrum)
inimical
1640s, from Late Latin inimicalis "hostile," from Latin inimicus "unfriendly; an enemy" (see enemy). Inimical expresses both feeling and action, generally in private affairs. Hostile also expresses both feeling and action, but applies especially to public affairs: where it appli

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