practicabilityn.

1665 E. Waterhouse Gentlemans Monitor xxii. 177 The knowledge and practicability of this, inclines men of good person..to apply themselves to Princes services.

1690 T. Burnet Answer Late Exceptions made by Mr. Erasmus Warren xvii. 83 In all other things also, that lie within the sphere of humane reason, we are allow'd to examine their practicability, or their credibility.

1720 J. Apletre Produce of India, Italy & France raised in Eng. (heading) Mr. Barbam's incomparable Essay on the silk-worm, proving the certain practicability of that laudable design to manage and produce raw silk of the growth of England.

1767 J. Smeaton (title) Report..concerning The Practicability and Expence of joining the Rivers Forth and Clyde by a Navigable Canal.

1790 Coll. Voy. round World IV. Introd. 1193 As to the existence, or at least as to the practicability of a northern passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

1830 J. Johnson Let. 28 Aug. in Flagg Corr. (1986) 43 Our government was in the infancy of experiment, and many doubted the practicability of supporting a republican government.

1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 122 He has..lost faith in the practicability of his scheme.

1913 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 22 Feb. 48/2 (advt.) The Warner speedometer is built on the magnetic principle... Its practicability must be conceded in view of the fact that today over 80% of all the speedometers manufactured are of the magnetic type.

1974 W. R. Hunt North of 53° xi. 65 Shipping companies had misadvised them on the practicability of the glacial route.

2004 Guardian 2 Jan. ii. 2/2 It's been the fashion statement of the year—and it marries that with practicability.

1787 Ld. Cavendish in Anticipation Speeches Spoken in House of Commons 10 The Right Honourable Gentleman can..speculate upon the practicabilities of an overtaxed country.

1815 J. Scott Visit to Paris xi. 238 Of all the practicabilities, which at present offer themselves to that country, the one that is most [promising] is the stability of the government of the Bourbons.

1895 T. Hardy Jude ii. vi. 138 What was the good..of using up his spare hours in a vague labour called ‘private study’ without giving an outlook on practicabilities?

1921 L. Pasvolsky Econ. Communism 23 The Communist economic analysis as it gradually formulates itself into practicabilities, is not based altogether upon theory, but to a large extent upon the Russian experiment in the economics of Communism.

1996 Dance Mag. May 114 A home had to be found, and New York City was not really a practicability.