Etymology Dictionary

CAPACIOUS,  able to hold or contain.  (L.)   Used by Sir W. Ralegh, Hist. of the World, bk. i. c. 6.   Shak. expresses the same idea by capable.   Ill formed, as if from a F. capacieux or Lat. capaciosus, but there are no such words, and the real source is the crude form capaci- of the Lat. adj. capax, able to contain.—Lat. capere, to contain, hold; cognate with E. have, q.v.—✔KAP, to hold; Fick, i. 518.   Der. capacious-ly, capacious-ness; and (from Lat. capax, gen. capaci-s) capaci-t-ate, capaci-ty.   From the Lat. capere we also have cap-able, cat-er; probably cap, cape, cope, q.v.   Also conceive, deceive, receive, &c.   Also captious, captivate, captive, captor, capture; anticipate, emancipate, participate; acceptable, conception, deception, except, intercept, precept, receipt, receptacle, susceptible; incipient, recipient; occupy; prince, principal; and all words nearly related to these.