| 释义 |
supposable, a.|səˈpəʊzəb(ə)l|
Also 7–8 supposeable.
[f. suppose v. + -able. Cf. F. supposable.]
Capable of being supposed; that may be thought to exist or to be true, or assumed for the sake of argument; presumable, imaginable.
1681Whole Duty Nations 26 The Regions not being so united in Government,..the distribution of Churches easily follows the distinction easily supposable in their civil state. 1726Butler Serm. Hum. Nat. iii. 47 note, Perfection, though plainly intelligible and supposeable, was never attained by any Man. 1748― Serm. 1 Pet. iv. 8, 11 They are highly to be blamed for not making some Provision against Age and supposeable Disasters. 1781Cowper Let. to Newton 21 May, It..is hardly a supposable case, but..we will endeavour to suppose it for a moment. 1867Bushnell Mor. Uses Dark Th. (1869) 273 What..are the supposable ends and uses of God in the appointment of a discipline so appalling? 1882Hamley Traseaden Hall III. 53 There was no supposable reason why he should..put a complexion other than the true one upon the duel.
b. Qualifying a clause anticipated by it.
1643Symmons Loyal Subjects Belief 29 Laws..are the King's..revealed, or written will, and therefore 'tis supposeable that his personall will may..be coordinate with them. 1696Whiston Theory Earth ii. (1722) 91 'Tis very supposable that 'tis our Ignorance..which occasions our lax and general Interpretations. 1736Butler Anal. Introd., 'Tis supposeable, there may be Frost in England any given day in January next. 1849G. M. Cooper in Sussex Archæol. Coll. (1850) III. 22 These are sufficient [proofs]..to render it supposable that this sequestered spot is the Dene once dignified by the presence of the great Alfred. 1884Law Times Rep. L. 647/2 And if they can, is it supposable that they may be turned out and afterwards re-enter?
†c. That may be presumed to be or to do something. Obs.
1647Hammond Power of Keys iv. 76 They being supposeable to understand that unknown tongue. 1659Gentl. Calling iv. §5 This..is the least that is supposeable to be required of them. a1834Lamb Misc. Wks. (1871) 498 The amazing change which is supposable to take place.
d. That may be supposed or presumed to be (what is denoted by the noun).
1891J. Winsor Columbus xii. 272 This supposable neophyte does not again appear in history.
Hence suˈpposably adv. (chiefly U.S.), as may be supposed; presumably.
a1866J. Grote Exam. Util. Philos. (1870) vi. 107 The happiness of any supposably actual being. 1881Ruskin Love's Meinie I. iii. 134 This aesthetic water⁓hen..lived at Cheadle,..in the rectory moat,..‘always how⁓ever leaving it in the spring,’ (for Scotland, supposably?). 1883Science I. 94 Conditions affecting two celestial objects which are supposably near enough to be influenced alike. 1893‘Mark Twain’ Pudd'nhead Wilson ii, Sitting on a wheelbarrow..at work, supposably, whereas he was in fact only..taking an hour's rest. |