Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.

Constable

Definition: Constable

Constable

Noun

1. A lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff.

2. English landscape painter (1776-1837).

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "constable" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1380. (references)


Specialty Definition: Constable

DomainDefinition

Literature

Constable (Latin, comes-stabuli) means "Master of the Horse." The constable of England and France was at one time a military officer of state, next in rank to the crown.
To overrun or outrun the constable. To get into debt; spend more than one's income; to talk about what you do not understand. (See below.)
"Quoth Hudibras, Friend Ralph, thou hast
Outrun the constable at last;
For thou hast fallen on a new
Dispute, as senseless as untrue."
Butler: Hudibras, i. 3.
Who's to pay the constable? Who is to pay the score?
The constable arrests debtors, and, of course, represents the creditor; wherefore, to overrun the constable is to overrun your credit account. To pay the constable is to give him the money due, to prevent an arrest. Source: Brewer's Dictionary.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Specialty Definition: Constable

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

For the painter see John Constable A Constable refers to a front line officer or member of the Police force in countries with a British colonial history (known as patrol officers in the USA). This gives rise to the alternative name of Constabulary for the Police force.

In British law and similar legal systems, a Constable has the legal powers of arrest given to him directly by a sworn oath and warrant, rather than being delegated powers that he has simply because he is employed as a Police officer. Technically this means that each sworn Constable is an independent legal official rather than simply an employee of the Police.

In many police forces, the rank of Constable is the lowest rank of a trained police officer. Though the rank of Senior Constable can sometimes mean the head of the police force in an area, the rank of Chief Constable or Commissioner is used more often to describe the head of the police force.

Other Police ranks include:

Also the additional identification of Detective is normally added for those who are involved in plainclothes investigating of more serious crimes rather than just uniform policing and is used as a prefix up to Chief Superintendant, for example Detective Inspector, Detective Constable, etc.

The 'rank' of Senior Constable is not used in any UK force.

See also

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Constable."

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Synonym: Constable

Synonym: John Constable (n). (additional references)

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Synonyms within Context: Constable

ContextSynonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus).

Debt

Verb: be in debt; Adjective: owe; incur a debt, contract a debt; Noun: run up a bill, run up a score, run up an account; go on tick; borrow; run into debt, get into debt, outrun the constable; run up debts, run up bills (spend).

Jurisdiction

Officer, bailiff, tipstaff, bum-bailiff, catchpoll, beadle; policeman, cop, police constable, police sergeant; sbirro, alguazil, gendarme, kavass, lictor, mace bearer, huissier, bedel; tithingman.

Judge; tribunal; municipality, corporation, bailiwick, shrievalty; lord lieutenant, sheriff, shire reeve, shrieve, constable; selectman; police, police force, the fuzz; constabulary, bumbledom, gendarmerie.

Master

Mayor, mayoralty; prefect, chancellor, archon, provost, magistrate, syndic; alcalde, alcaid; burgomaster, corregidor, seneschal, alderman, councilman, committeeman, councilwoman, warden, constable, portreeve; lord mayor; officer; (executive); dewan, fonctionnaire.

Prodigality

Verb: be prodigal; Adjective: squander, lavish, sow broadcast; pour forth like water; blow, blow in; pay through the nose; (dear); spill, waste, dissipate, exhaust, drain, eat out of house and home, overdraw, outrun the constable; run out, run through; misspend; throw good money after bad, throw the helve after the hatchet; burn the candle at both ends; make ducks and drakes of one's money; fool away one's money, potter away one's money, muddle away one's money, fritter away one's money, throw away one's money, run through one's money; pour water into a sieve, kill the goose that lays the golden eggs; manger son ble en herbe.

Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus.

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Crosswords: Constable

English words defined with "constable": AlguazilBorsholderConstablery, Constableship, Constabless, Court of chivalryEarl marshal of England, Earl marshal of ScotlandHeadborrow, High constableKavassPeace officer, Petit constable, Petty officerSheading, Special constableThird-borough, tipstaff, Tithingman. (references)
Specialty definitions using "constable": Abram-colourBONED, BUS-NAPPERCatch-Club, Constable de Bourbon, Cry Havock!HAMLET, HARMAN, HermegyldNIGHT MAGISTRATE, NuprlOutrun the ConstableYellow-boy. (references)
Non-English Usage: "Constable" is also a word in the following language with the English translation in parentheses.

French (constable).

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Modern Usage: Constable

DomainUsage

Screenplays

You are a long way from New York, constable. (Sleepy Hollow; writing credit: Kevin Yagher)

Movie/TV Titles

Constable Koothuru (1962)

Carry On Constable (1960)

The Constable (1940)

Adam As a Special Constable (1918)

Special Constable Pimple (1914)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Commercial Usage: Constable

DomainTitle

Books

  • Constable (World of Art) (reference)

  • Constable Among the Heather (Soundings/5 Audio Cassettes) [UNABRIDGED] (reference)

  • Evans to Betsy: A Constable Evans Mystery (reference)

  • Heartbeat Constable on Call [UNABRIDGED] (reference)

  • John Constable (reference)

    (more book examples)

  

Theater & Movies

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Image Slideshow: Constable

Illustrations:
Constable

More pictures...

Computer Images:
Constable

More pictures...

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Photo Album: Constable

ThumbnailDescription & CreditThumbnailDescription & Credit

The Reforming constable, or, The biter bit / Capt H---invt ; Cap B-- Sculp. Credit: Library of Congress.

He stooped to pick up the scourge which his constable had refused to wield / Victor Perard. Credit: Library of Congress.

Deputy sheriff and constable talking, Mogollon, New Mexico. Credit: Library of Congress.

New York City views. Arnold Constable decorations. Credit: Library of Congress.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

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Familiar Quotations: Constable

AuthorQuotation

William Shakespeare

You are thought here to be the most senseless and fit man for the constable of the watch, therefore bear you the lantern.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Historic Usage: Constable

AuthorDateQuotation

Magna Carta

1215

No sheriff, constable, coroners, or others of our bailiffs, shall hold pleas of our Crown. (reference)

John Locke

1690

Is it reasonable, that the eldest brother, because he has the greatest part of his father's estate, should thereby have a right to take away any of his younger brothers portions? or that a rich man, who possessed a whole country, should from thence have a right to seize, when he pleased, the cottage and garden of his poor neighbour? The being rightfully possessed of great power and riches, exceedingly beyond the greatest part of the sons of Adam, is so far from being an excuse, much less a reason, for rapine and oppression, which the endamaging another without authority is, that it is a great aggravation of it: for the exceeding the bounds of authority is no more a right in a great, than in a petty officer; no more justifiable in a king than a constable; but is so much the worse in him, in that he has more trust put in him, has already a much greater share than the rest of his brethren, and is supposed, from the advantages of his education, employment, and counsellors, to be more knowing in the measures of right and wrong. (Second Treatise of Government)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Use in Literature: Constable

TitleAuthorQuote

Les Miserables

Hugo, Victor

Neither judge nor constable is known there.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

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Non-Fiction Usage: Constable

SubjectTopicQuote

Human Rights

Uganda

In March 2000, the police constable was arrested. (references)

Zambia

The police constable who beat to death Sailas Mabvuto Lungu in 1999 remained in detention awaiting trial at year's end. (references)

Uganda

On August 3, police arrested Constable Issa Sewatti for the killing of Annet Nakimuli on August 31 during an eviction in a Kampala suburb. (references)

Political Economy

Solomon Islands

Members of the PFF and the special constable group have engaged in criminal activities, including extortion, robbery, vehicle theft, intimidation, and fraud; these abuses were not sanctioned by police leadership. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

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Usage Frequency: Constable

"Constable" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 73.01% of the time. "Constable" is used about 1,832 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)
Parts of SpeechPercentUsage per
100 Million Words
Rank in English
Noun (singular)73.01%1,3385,938
Noun (proper)26.99%49412,153
                    Total100.00%1,832N/A

Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

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Name Usage Frequency: Constable

The following table summarizes the usage of "constable" based on a population census conducted in the United States. Ranks and frequencies are based on all names reported and classified.
NameUsage/GenderUsage per 100
million Persons
Rank in USA
ConstableLast name1,00013,829
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

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Cities: Constable


1. Constable, NY
Zip Code(s): 12926
Country: USA

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Expression: Constable

Expressions using "constable": chief constable country constable High constable John Constable Lord high constable outrun the constable overrun the constable petit constable petty constable police constable rural constable special constable the constable. Additional references.

Hypenated Usage

Ending with "constable": Detective-constable.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Frequency of Internet Keywords: Constable

The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com.
 
ExpressionFrequency
per Day
ExpressionFrequency
per Day

constable

113

constable office

4

john constable

71

constable painting

4

harris county constable

31

canada constable in job special

4

chelsea constable

24

constable state

4

constable ny

16

badge constable

4

massachusetts constable

11

constable county harris patrol

3

constable county dallas

11

constable john lady

3

constable laughlin

10

constable houston

3

constable special

10

carolina constable south

3

constable texas

9

astra constable

3

constable pa state

9

alberta constable special

3

constable jacks

7

constable thomas

3

constable pennsylvania

7

constable skeen wright

3

constable pennsylvania state

6

constable henry

3

carolina constable south state

6

constable ma

3

constable county harris office

6

john constable artist

3

constable county travis

6

constable las vegas

3

constable pa

5

arkansas constable

3

john constable painting

5

chelsea constable guitar

3

constable county tarrant

4

constable sc

3
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

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Modern Translation: Constable

Language Translations for "constable"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses.

Albanian

  

polic i thjeshtë, kryeoficer kështjelle. (various references)

   

Arabic 

  

‏موظف كبير في قصر, ‏موظف مسؤول عن الأمن, ‏حاكم قلعة أو مدينة, ‏شرطي (bobby, bull, conditional, cop, copper, gendarme, officer, pig, provisional, provisory, sleuth, subjunctive). (various references)

   

Bulgarian 

  

управител на дворец, полицай (bluebottle, bull, cop, copper, flatfoot, fuzz, grass, gumshoe, jemadar, patrolman, peace officer, peeler, pendant, peon, pig, pointsman, police officer, policeman, rozzer, runner, shamus, slop, trap). (various references)

   

Chinese 

  

警官 (sergeant), 警察 (Bobby, Cop, Cops, Police, Policeman, Policemen). (various references)

   

Czech

  

policista (patrolman, policeman), policejní strážník. (various references)

   

Danish

  

civilklaedt betjent (plain-clothes constable, plain-clothes policeman). (various references)

   

Dutch

  

wachtmeester der Rijkspolitie, agent (agent, officer, policeman). (various references)

   

Farsi 

  

پاسبان (Cop, Guard, Johnny, Police, Policeman), ضابط (Archivist), افسرارتش . (various references)

   

Finnish

  

poliisikonstaapeli, konstaapeli (policeman). (various references)

   

French

  

policier, maréchal des logis de la Police Nationale, gendarme, agent de police. (various references)

   

German

  

schutzmann (police constable, policeman), polizist (Bobby, cop, officer, patrolman, police, police constable, police officer, policeman). (various references)

   

Greek 

  

χωροφύλακασ (gendarme), χωροφύλαξ (Ranger), αστυνομικόσ (copper, policeman), αστυφύλακασ (cop, policeman). (various references)

   

Hebrew 

  

שוטר (copper, minion of the law, officer, official, policeman, redcap). (various references)

   

Hungarian

  

rendőr (flatfoot, police constable, policeman, policemen, sleuth), királyi várkapitány, hadseregparancsnok (army commander). (various references)

   

Indonesian

  

polisi (cop, police). (various references)

   

Italian

  

conestabile, poliziotto (Bobby, bull, cop, patrolman, policeman, trooper), guardia (garde, guard, guarders, guardsman, keeping, look out, minder, policeman, sentry, ward, watch, watcher), governatore (governor, ruler), agente di polizia (policeman, state trooper). (various references)

   

Japanese Kanji 

  

捕吏 . (various references)

   

Japanese Katakana 

  

ほり (canal, moat). (various references)

   

Korean 

  

치안관. (various references)

   

Manx

  

poleen (Bobby, copper, policeman), meoir shee (cop, copper, policeman), kiannoort (chief, chieftain, governor). (various references)

   

Norwegian

  

konstabel. (various references)

   

Pig Latin

  

onstablecay

   

Portuguese

  

contestável (actionable, debatable, litigable, questionable), policial (bobby, bull, constabulary, cop, crusher, patrolman, police officer, policeman, policewoman, slop), polícia (bobby, bull, constabulary, cop, crusher, patrolman, police, police force, police officer, policeman, policewoman, slop). (various references)

   

Romanian

  

conetabil, poliţist (Bobby, cop, copper, ferret, minion of the law, officer, patrolman, peace officer, peeler, police, policeman). (various references)

   

Russian 

  

констебль. (various references)

   

Serbo-Croatian

  

visoki činovnik, policajac (bobby, cop, flatfoot, jack, officer, patrolman, peace officer, police constable, police officer, policeman, portreeve, sowar, trooper), šerifov pomoćnik. (various references)

   

Spanish

  

alguacil (alguazil, bailiff, beadle, Marshal, sheriff). (various references)

   

Swedish

  

konstapel (policeman). (various references)

   

Turkish

  

polis memuru (cop, officer, peace officer, police officer). (various references)

   

Ukrainian

  

констебль (officer), комендант (commandant, governor), поліцейський (blue, constabulary, cop, patrolman, peeler, policeman). (various references)

   

Vietnamese 

  

cảnh sát (limb, peace-officer, police, policeman, policer-officer), đốc quân, đốc hiệu mang công mắc nợ. (various references)

   

Welsh

  

cwnstabl. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references.

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Derivations & Misspellings: Constable

Derivations

Words beginning with "constable": constables. (additional references)


Misspellings

"Constable" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: cantable, Castabala, consatble, constablwe, Cosntable. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

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Rhyming with "Constable"

# of Phoneme MatchesPronunciationWord(s) rhyming with "constable" (pronounced kÄ"nstubul)
6-s t u b u ladjustable, contestable, digestible, harvestable, inexhaustible, investable, irresistible, suggestible.
5-t u b u lacceptable, accountable, adaptable, adoptable, attributable, charitable, collectible, comfortable, compatible, contemptible, convertible, copyrightable, countable, creditable, debatable, deductible, delectable, detectable, discountable, disreputable, eatable, electable, equitable, excitable, exportable, forfeitable, forgettable, habitable, heritable, hospitable, imitable, immutable, imperceptible, implantable, incompatible, incontrovertible, indestructible, indisputable, indomitable, inequitable, inevitable, inflatable, inheritable, inhospitable, inimitable, injectable, inscrutable, insupportable, insurmountable, interruptible, intractable, irrefutable, irritable, lamentable, marketable, nonconvertible, nondeductible, notable, palatable, patentable, perceptible, portable, potable, predictable, presentable, preventable, printable, profitable, prosecutable, quotable, redoubtable, regrettable, rentable, repeatable, reportable, reputable, resettable, respectable, retractable, suitable, supportable, susceptible, tractable, transmittable, transportable, treatable, unacceptable, unaccountable, unbeatable, uncollectible, uncomfortable, undetectable, unelectable, unforgettable, uninhabitable, unpalatable, unpredictable, unprintable, unprofitable, unsuitable, unsupportable, vegetable, veritable.
4-u b u labominable, accessible, achievable, actionable, addressable, admirable, admissible, adorable, advisable, affable, affordable, agreeable, allowable, amenable, amendable, amiable, amicable, analyzable, answerable, appealable, applicable, appreciable, approachable, approvable, arable, arguable, attainable, audible, available, avoidable, bankable, bearable, believable, billable, biodegradable, breakable, buildable, burnable, callable, cannibal, capable, changeable, chargeable, classifiable, collapsible, Combinable, commendable, communicable, comparable, compensable, comprehensible, conceivable, confirmable, considerable, consumable, controllable, credible, crucible, culpable, curable, defensible, definable, degradable, deliverable, demonstrable, dependable, deplorable, deployable, depreciable, describable, desirable, despicable, detachable, determinable, developable, disagreeable, discernible, discoverable, dishonorable, dispensable, disposable, distinguishable, divisible, doable, drinkable, drivable, durable, edible, eligible, Embraceable, employable, enforceable, enjoyable, enviable, equable, erasable, erodible, estimable, exchangeable, excludable, excusable, execrable, exercisable, expandable, expendable, explainable, extendable, extendible, fallible, fashionable, fathomable, favorable, feasible, fissionable, fixable, flammable, flexible, forcible, foreseeable, forgivable, formidable, fungible, fusible, gullible, hon, honorable, horrible, identifiable, illegible, imaginable, immiscible, immovable, impassable, impeachable, impeccable, impenetrable, impermissible, implacable, implausible, imponderable, impossible, impracticable, impregnable, impressionable, improbable, inaccessible, inadmissible, inadvisable, inalienable, inapplicable, inaudible, incalculable, incapable, incomparable, incomprehensible, incompressible, inconceivable, incorrigible, incredible, incurable, indefatigable, indefensible, indefinable, indelible, indescribable, indispensable, indistinguishable, indivisible, inedible, ineffable, ineligible, inescapable, inexcusable, inexorable, inexplicable, infallible, infeasible, inflammable, inflexible, innumerable, inoperable, insatiable, inseparable, insoluble, insufferable, intangible, intelligible, interchangeable, interminable, intolerable, invaluable, invincible, inviolable, invisible, invulnerable, irascible, irreconcilable, irremediable, irreparable, irreplaceable, irrepressible, irresponsible, irreversible, irrevocable, issuable, justifiable, knowledgeable, laudable, laughable, leasable, legible, liable, likable, likeable, livable, lovable, malleable, manageable, mandible, maneuverable, measurable, memorable, microwavable, miscible, miserable, moldable, movable, navigable, negligible, negotiable, noncallable, nondurable, nonrefundable, nonrenewable, nontaxable, nontransferable, noticeable, objectionable, observable, obtainable, operable, ostensible, palpable, parable, passable, payable, peaceable, perishable, permeable, permissible, personable, persuadable, pitiable, plausible, pleasurable, pliable, possible, practicable, preferable, probable, programmable, provable, punishable, questionable, reachable, readable, realizable, reasonable, receivable, rechargeable, recognizable, recordable, recoverable, recyclable, redeemable, reducible, refundable, reliable, remarkable, removable, renewable, repairable, repayable, replaceable, reprehensible, resealable, responsible, returnable, reusable, reversible, revocable, ridable, salable, saleable, salvageable, seasonable, sensible, serviceable, sizable, sizeable, sociable, soluble, solvable, spendable, submersible, survivable, sustainable, syllable, talkable, tangible, taxable, teachable, tenable, terrible, tolerable, traceable, tradable, tradeable, trainable, transferable, transferrable, tunable, typeable, unaffordable, unalienable, unalterable, unanswerable, unassailable, unattainable, unavailable, unavoidable, unbearable, unbelievable, unbuildable, unconscionable, uncontrollable, undeniable, understandable, undesirable, unemployable, unenforceable, unenviable, unexplainable, unfashionable, unfathomable, unfavorable, unfeasible, unflappable, unforeseeable, unforgivable, ungovernable, unimaginable, unimpeachable, uninsurable, unintelligible, unjustifiable, unknowable, unlivable, unmanageable, unmentionable, unmistakable, unobtainable, unquestionable, unreachable, unreadable, unreasonable, unrecognizable, unreliable, unremarkable, unsalable, unshakable, unsinkable, unsolvable, unspeakable, unstoppable, unsustainable, untenable, unthinkable, untouchable, untraceable, unusable, unverifiable, unwinnable, unworkable, usable, variable, venerable, verifiable, viable, visible, voluble, vulnerable, washable, wearable, winnable, workable.
3-b u lable, amble, assemble, babble, Babel, bauble, bible, bramble, bubble, Bumble, cable, cobble, coble, corbel, crumble, cymbal, dabble, Dibble, disable, disassemble, dissemble, double, Drabble, dribble, enable, enfeeble, ennoble, ensemble, fable, feeble, foible, fumble, gable, gamble, Garble, global, gobble, Gribble, grumble, hardscrabble, herbal, hobble, humble, ignoble, immeasurable, immobile, intertribal, jumble, kibble, label, libel, marble, mislabel, mobile, mumble, nibble, nimble, noble, nonverbal, pebble, preamble, psychobabble, quibble, rabble, ramble, reassemble, rebel, redouble, relabel, resemble, Roble, rouble, roundtable, rubble, Ruble, rumble, sable, Scrabble, scramble, scribble, shamble, Sibyl, squabble, Stabile, stable, stubble, stumble, symbol, table, thimble, timetable, treble, tremble, tribal, trouble, tubal, tumble, turntable, umbel, unable, unscramble, unserviceable, unstable, valuable, verbal, wamble, wobble.

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

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Anagrams: Constable

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

Words within the letters "a-b-c-e-l-n-o-s-t"

-1 letter: lactones, notables, obstacle, stonable.

-2 letters: beacons, boatels, cablets, cantles, centals, cobalts, etalons, lactone, lactose, lancets, locates, noblest, notable, oblates, octanes, talcose, tolanes.

-3 letters: ablest, absent, anoles, ascent, atones, bacons, bancos, batons, beacon, beanos, betons, bleats, bloats, boatel, botels, cables, cablet, canoes, cantle, cantos, castle, cental, centas, centos, cleans, cleats, clones, closet, cobalt, cobles.

 Words containing the letters "a-b-c-e-l-n-o-s-t"
 

+1 letter: cobaltines, constables.

 

+2 letters: bisectional, conglobates, construable, contestable, outbalances.

 

+3 letters: celebrations, confabulates, contrastable, counterblast, discountable, sanctionable, untouchables.

 

+4 letters: bisectionally, concelebrants, concelebrates, confiscatable, counterblasts, elucubrations, incompatibles, incontestable, incontestably, subadolescent, technobabbles.

 

+5 letters: antimetabolics, binocularities, compatibleness, compensability, connubialities, constabularies, countabilities, nonjusticiable, polycarbonates, recalibrations, rediscountable, relubrications, republications, subadolescents, subcontinental, subcutaneously.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro.

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INDEX

1. Definition
2. Synonyms
3. Crosswords
4. Usage: Modern
5. Usage: Commercial
6. Images: Slideshow
7. Images: Photo Album
8. Quotations: Familiar
9. Quotations: Historic
10. Quotations: Fiction
11. Quotations: Non-fiction
12. Usage Frequency
13. Names: Frequency
14. Cities
15. Expressions
16. Expressions: Internet
17. Translations: Modern
18. Derivations
19. Rhymes
20. Anagrams
21. Bibliography


  

Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.