| 释义 |
practicable, a.|ˈpræktɪkəb(ə)l|
[ad. F. praticable (pratiquable, 1594 in Hatz.-Darm.), f. pratiquer to practise: see -able. Conformed in the stem to practic, practice, and med.L. practicāre.]
1. Capable of being put into practice, carried out in action, effected, accomplished, or done; feasible.
1670Maynwaring (title) Vita Sana & Longa. The Preservation of Health,..proved. In the due observance of Remarkable Præcautions And daily practicable Rules, Relating to Body and Mind. 1688S. Penton Guardian's Instr. 63 There was so much plain, practicable Truth in what he had said. 1719De Foe Crusoe i. 169, I knew not how it was practicable to get it about. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. iii. 26 Ascended the glacier as far as practicable.
2. Capable of being actually used or traversed, as a road, passage, ford, etc.
1710Lond. Gaz. No. 4709/1 The Breach..being already practicable, Preparations were making for the general Assault. 1784J. Belknap Tour White Mts. (1876) 16 The only practicable pass through these Mountains to the upper settlements on Connecticut River. 1828W. Irving in Life & Lett. (1864) II. 309 From Gibraltar the road to Cadiz is likewise very practicable for ladies. 1841Elphinstone Hist. Ind. II. 519 By the time the breach was practicable the town was distressed for provisions.
b. Theatr. Said of windows, doors, etc., which are capable of actual use in the play, as distinct from things merely simulated. Also (colloq.) ellipt. as n.
1838Dickens Nich. Nick. xxii, He put his head out of the practicable door in the front grooves O.P. 1842Penny Cycl. XXIV. 296/1 Although they [narrow passages at the back of the stage] are, in stage language, ‘practicable’, hardly could they have been made use of. 1856Mayhew Rhine 92 The heads of all the tinsel busts..you now find to be ‘practicable’, as they say in theatrical language. 1859Wraxall tr. R. Houdin xviii. 267 The machinist had put up a plank running from the stage to the end of the pit, and..two other ‘practicables’, much shorter than the centre one, ran across to the boxes. 1882Mrs. Oliphant Lit. Hist. Eng. I. 362 His [Southey's] scenery and enchantments are always ‘practicable’, to use theatrical language.
3. slang. Easily practised upon or manipulated, gullible; open to connivence or collusion; facile.
1809Malkin Gil Blas v. i. ⁋5 As practicable greenhorns as ever fell into the hands of a man of genius. Ibid. vii. xv. ⁋12 You might as well be a little more practicable with the clerk of the kitchen.
Hence ˈpracticableness, the quality of being practicable; practicability; ˈpracticably adv., in a practicable manner; in actual practice or operation, practically.
1643Nethersole Proj. for Peace (1648) 5 Without having respect to the practicablenesse thereof. 1649Bounds Publ. Obed. 11 All our scruples therefore are concerning things to us practicably lawfull or unlawfull in themselves. a1729J. Rogers (J.), The meanest capacity, when he sees a rule practicably applied before his eyes, can no longer be at a loss how 'tis to be performed. 1742Richardson Pamela IV. 344 Which I mention only to shew the Practicableness of a Reformation. 1883Christian 1 Nov. 12/1 The question of the practicableness..of the Jordan Valley Canal scheme. |