| 释义 |
formable, a.|ˈfɔːməb(ə)l|
[f. form v.1 + -able.]
1. That may be formed. In early use: Workable, plastic.
1398Trevisa Barth. De P. R. xvii. xxiv. (1495) 617 The cypresse tree is fourmable. 1572J. Bossewell Armorie ii. 95 b, The Cypres next vnto y⊇ Cedar tree is most formable. 1600Dekker Old Fortunatus in Dodsley O. Pl. (1816) III. 166 God bless me from suffering you to love me, if you be not so formable. 1629T. Adams Wks. 696 The Papists..not shaming to call that sacred Writ a nose of waxe, formable to any construction. 1674Grew Anat. Plants iv. i. iii. (1682) 225 Not generable, formable, or transformable. 1884J. Fiske Evolutionist xii. 312 A good many of his nervous connections are not yet formed, they are only formable.
†2. Exhibiting agreement with prescribed forms; formal, proper, shapely. Obs.
1479J. Paston in Paston Lett. No. 841 III. 256 Lomnore and I..drew ought a formable bylle ought of your, and send it ayen to th' Exchetore. 1483Cath. Angl. 138/1 Formabylle; ubi ordinate. 1586W. Webbe Eng. Poetrie (Arb.) 90 That whatsoeuer he wryteth he may so expresse and order it, that hys narration may be formable. 1622F. Markham Bk. War ii. v. 58 One of the first which gaue light to our late Postures, and formable motions.
Hence formaˈbility, capability of formation.
1825Coleridge Aids Refl. App. C. (1858) I. 394 Of infinite capacity and formability. |