sociableadj.n.

Brit.

/ˈsəʊʃəbl/, U.S.

/ˈsoʊʃəb(ə)l/

Forms: 1500s– sociable, 1600s socieable (Scottish).

Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French sociable; Latin sociābilis.

Etymology: < (i) Middle French, French sociable connected with, allied with (a1342), naturally inclined to living in society or in the company of others (c1473; 1635 in sense ‘easy to get along with, affable, gregarious’), proper to or relating to life in society (c1595), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin sociābilis that is easily joined in partnership, (of a partnership) close, intimate < sociāre sociate v. + -bilis -ble suffix. Compare Catalan sociable (15th cent.), Spanish sociable (15th cent.), Portuguese sociavel (1679), Italian sociabile (a1563). Compare earlier sociability n.In sense A. 6 after French sociable ( P. Poulet in L'Intermédiaire des Mathématiciens (1918) 25 101). With senses B. 3c and B. 3d compare French sociable type of cycle with two seats side by side (1889), type of four-wheeled motor vehicle with two seats facing one another (1907 or earlier).

A. adj.

a. Naturally inclined to be in the company of others of the same species.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social relations > [adjective] > having tendency to

fellowlyc1425

fellowlikec1454

sociable1511

gregarious1789

aggregative1837

affiliative1861

1511 Gouernaunce Kynges & Prynces sig. Hii He [sc. man] is a foole, malycyous vntretable. Harde of kynde, and not sociable.

1553 T. Wilson Arte Rhetorique (1580) 56 Euery societie or companiyng together is delitfull,..for asmuche as Nature hath ordeined vs to be sociable, frendly, and louyng together.

1581 A. Fleming Diamond of Deuotion sig. K4 We see that Bees being a sociable creature, that is, apt for companie, flee together in swarmes.

1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 592 It is a very sociable creature, for they do liue togither in heardes aboue a thousand in a flock.

1680 W. Temple Ess. Orig. & Nature Govt. in Wks. (1720) I. 99 What it is that makes some Creatures sociable, and others live and range more alone, or in smaller Companies.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 9. ¶1 Man is said to be a Sociable Animal.

1766 T. Pennant Brit. Zool. ii. 76 Rooks are sociable birds, living in vast flocks; crows only go in pairs.

1824 W. E. Parry Jrnl. Second Voy. Discov. North-west Passage xv. 534 Being a sociable people, they unite in considerable numbers to form a settlement for the winter.

1896 B. Spencer Rep. Horn Sci. Exped. Central Austral. II. 91 Red-breasted pomatostomus..are extremely sociable.

1962 B. W. Leake Eastern Wheatbelt Wildlife 89 The welcome, fairy and white headed swallows are all migratory, the first being very sociable.

1995 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 29 Jan. vi. 6/1 Our ancestors more likely were intensely sociable and cooperative primates.

b. In the names of various birds considered to be gregarious. Cf. social adj. 6d. sociable grosbeak n. = sociable weaver n. at Compounds.

ΚΠ

1801 J. Latham Gen. Synopsis Birds Suppl. II. 192 Sociable Grosbeak.—Size of a bulfinch;..general colour..rufous brown.

1829 E. Griffith et al. Cuvier's Animal Kingdom VI. 163 The Sociable Vulture, or Oricou.

1875 Encycl. Brit. III. 772 The Sociable Grosbeak of South Africa.

1908 Zoologist 12 122 The Sociable Plovers and other rare birds which showed themselves in Kent.

1921 P. A. Kropotkin Mutual Aid: Factor in Evol. i. 25 The sociable vulture, one of the strongest vultures, has received its very name from its love of society.

1957 Encycl. Brit. X. 907 For ‘sociable grosbeak,’ see weaverbird.

2005 Times (Nexis) 5 Dec. 22 The big attraction was a sociable plover, illustrated left, six months old, discovered on Aveley Pools at Rainham Marshes.

a. Of a person, or occasionally an animal: inclined or disposed to seek and enjoy the company of others; friendly or affable in company; disposed to conversation and social activities.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social relations > [adjective]

sociable1573

frequent1609

conversative1617

conversablea1631

conversive1661

homiletical1668

social1788

interpersonal1842

1573 G. Harvey Let.-bk. (1884) 5 This is he that accuseth me of not being sociable, him self so sociable as you se.

1602 F. Herring tr. J. Oberndorf Anatomyes True Physition 9 The true Phisition is sociable, and readie to communicate.

1604 F. Trigge Humble Pet. Two Sisters sig. D3^v Christians, to whom he [sc. God] hath giuen that louing and sociable doue of his holy Spirit.

1656 Duchess of Newcastle True Relation in Natures Pictures 374 I durst neither look up with my eyes, nor speak, nor be any way sociable.

1707 E. Ward Wooden World Dissected 91 He e'en..turn'd a sociable Sot, like the rest of his Brethren.

a1790 B. Franklin Autobiogr. (1981) i. 40 We had a sociable Company in the Cabin.

1824 S. Smith Amer. in Wks. (1859) II. 47/1 The great inconvenience..is one which more sociable travellers must feel less acutely.

1848 Friends' Rev. 1 542/2 He [sc. a swan] was as sociable as a dog and nearly as attached.

1893 K. L. Bates Eng. Relig. Drama 223 Pity, Contemplation, and Perseverance, sociable old worthies.

1935 Times 20 Aug. 14/4 Sir Evelyn was sociable and sympathetic, fond of sport, and was a good shot in his younger days.

1965 H. J. Eysenck Smoking, Health & Personality iv. 80 The typical extravert is sociable, likes parties, has many friends, needs to have people to talk to, and does not like reading or studying by himself.

2006 Gazette (Montreal) (Nexis) 18 June a14 Alexandra Dorozowsky was a bright, sociable, database programmer who made friends easily.

b. With to, with.

ΚΠ

1602 T. Lodge tr. Josephus Wks. 617 The Pharisees are sociable and louing one to another.

1693 H. Newcome Disc. Anger To Rdr. sig. A 8^v So unruly a Creature as Man is, within himself, must undergo a great transformation, to make him regularly, and profitably sociable with others.

1715 H. Carey Contrivances 9 Pray do you be civil and sociable with her.

1751 Earl of Orrery Remarks Swift (1752) 3 He was sociable only to particular friends, and to them only at particular hours.

1859 Harper's Mag. Feb. 343/2 She never could make up her mind to be sociable with them, and exchange tea-drinking civilities.

1862 E. Stoddard Morgesons x. 48 He was sociable to those who visited the house; but never with those abiding in his family.

1907 Michigan Law Rev. 5 166 In manner, he was a gentleman, kind and polite to all of every class, sociable to all.

1963 J. Fishman My Darling Clementine vii. 73 Winston and Clementine continued being sociable with the group of admirers.

2006 Star-Phoenix (Saskatoon, Sask.) (Nexis) 8 Dec. a4 A Vancouver Island man..was ejected from a nudist club for failing to be sociable to the other nudists.

c. figurative of an inanimate or abstract thing.

ΚΠ

1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 181 Nicanor..made a vaine attempt to bring the Euxin and this sea into one, to make it sociable and navigable.

a1716 R. South Serm. Several Occasions (1744) XI. 8 This sociable evil [sc. the body], this treacherous companion, is the enticer and betrayer to all sin.

1769 T. Llewellyn Hist. & Crit. Remarks Brit. Tongue ii. i. 66 Some letters will not be sociable and succeed others.

1852 N. Hawthorne Wonder-bk. (1868) 142 That sociablest of flowers, the little Houstonia.

1999 L. Daston in W. Clark et al. Sci. in Enlightened Europe xv. 497 The peculiar light of the enlightened..was a sociable light. It was not the inner light of mystical vision, but rather the outer light of letters, lectures,..journals and conversations.

a. Marked or characterized by friendliness or companionship with others; congenial.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > social intercourse or companionship > [adjective] > sociable

companablea1387

familiarc1425

fellowlyc1425

companiable1440

fellowable1440

fellowlikec1454

accompanable1548

sociable1573

companionable1593

associable1611

conversablea1684

social1698

easy1714

gregarious1789

aggregative1837

company keeping1839

folksy1852

oncoming1925

mixy1942

outgoing1950

1573 G. Harvey Let.-bk. (1884) 8 These ar ther sociable and fellouli delings.

1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. II. 404 The ciuil and sociable nature, in which God hath created them.

1641 J. Jackson True Evangelical Temper i. 6 Sweet and calme and sociable manners and conversation.

1661 A. Brome Songs & Other Poems sig. G4^v A sociable life and free.

1695 W. Kennett Parochial Antiq. ix. 56 This was a sociable practise of that age.

1781 W. Cowper Let. 9 Dec. (1979) I. 554 Comfortably situated by a good fire, and just entering on a sociable conversation.

1841 M. Elphinstone Hist. India II. vii. i. 99 He had often similar moments of enjoyment, thanks to his sociable habits.

1898 Atlantic Monthly Apr. 506/1 The harvesting of potatoes was a sociable toil.

1924 Times 15 Feb. 5/7 Fives is a very sociable game. You choose your own partner.

1940 H. B. Hough Country Editor xiii. 99 Men and boys stood in stores and on corners uptown..enjoying sociable conversation.

2007 Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 14 Jan. 14 The club..has a bar, a pleasant dining room and a sociable atmosphere.

b. Designating an open, four-wheeled carriage that has two double seats facing each other and a box seat for the driver. Chiefly in sociable coach. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > cart, carriage, or wagon > carriage for conveying persons > [noun] > types of carriage > with seats facing each other > four-wheeled

sociable coach1772

sociable1780

1673 W. Wycherley Gentleman Dancing-master v. i I will have..a large, sociable, well painted Coach.

1772 Town & Co. Mag. 17 In high spirits Maria stepped into Mrs. Benwell's sociable coach.

1859 Mechanics' Mag. 9 Sept. 175/3 A four-wheeled safety sociable carriage.

1861 Times 27 Sept. 2/2 (advt.) A side-light Sociable Coach, in good condition.

1966 North Adams (Mass.) Transcript 26 Feb. 1/1 (headline) Sociable Coach Style Sleigh.

†4.

a. Able to be combined or joined together. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being combined > [adjective] > combined > capable of being

sociable1593

compoundable1682

combinable1749

amalgamable1835

integrable1855

1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie i. iii. 55 Another law there is, which toucheth them as they are sociable partes vnited into one bodie.

1679 I. Newton Let. 28 Feb. in Corr. (1960) II. 292 There is a certain secret principle in nature by wch liquors are sociable to some things & unsociable to others.

1682 N. Grew Of Mixture i. i. §1 in Anat. Plants 231 To render all Bodies Sociable or Mingleable.

b. Suitable to be made a companion for others. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > social intercourse or companionship > [adjective] > capable of being made a companion for others

sociable1608

1608 N. Breton Divine Considerations sig. G11 God..made him [sc. man] like vnto himselfe.., amiable in his sight, sociable for his Angells, and coheire with his blessed Sonne.

5. Of, for, or relating to society; social.

ΘΚΠ

society > [adjective]

civilc1443

social1579

sociable1641

civic1655

societal1843

societary1844

worldward1848

macrosocial1969

1641 H. L'Estrange Gods Sabbath 62 The equitie of State requireth that particular persons be not inriched any way which reflecteth to the damage of a communitie; upon this sociable equitie, there is a positive, a Statute law inacted.

1680 C. Ness Compl. Church-hist. 39 Peter explains his two sociable duties, Fear God, Honour the King.

1705 F. Atterbury Of Relig. Retirement 8 Pressing upon Men the Exercise of those Graces which adorn the Sociable State.

1776 F. Fowke tr. Cato in tr. Phædrus Fables ii. v. 49 At that same time one in particular..began with his watering-tub to sprinkle the parched ground, displaying his sociable service.

1852 Republic Oct. 250/2 A few years ago, society was more governed than now by sincere and sociable rules; men of family were more privileged in many respects.

1916 Newark (Ohio) Advocate 12 Dec. 4/4 Oh, the joy o' livin' a natural life! Of jest livin' as the common people do with no sociable duties to yerk you.

2005 Finance Week (Nexis) 26 Oct. 5 Part of its OFR preparation will focus on which elements of its corporate sociable responsibility (CSR) programme to incorporate.

6. Mathematics. Designating a cycle of three or more integers such that each is the sum of the factors of the previous one. Cf. amicable number n. at amicable adj. Compounds, perfect adj. 9.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > numerical arrangement > [adjective] > of sets > of sequences > series

intermediate1648

converging1728

convergent1816

zeroth1850

tactical1864

oscillatory1893

termwise1903

sociable1964

1964 A. H. Beiler Recreations in Theory of Numbers iv. 28 In passing through such a cycle, one of the sums may turn out to equal the original number and then we have an ‘amicable number of a higher order’ or..a ‘sociable number’.

1970 Math. Computation 24 428 Until now only two groups of sociable numbers were known, respectively of order 5 and 28... I have made an exhaustive search for sociable groups of order t ≦ 10 of which the lesser number is smaller than 6.10⁷. This search has yielded 9 new groups,..all of order 4.

1972 C. S. Ogilvy Tomorrow's Math (ed. 2) v. 113 The numbers 12496→14288→15472→14536→14264→12496 form what has been called a sociable chain of 5 links... The sum of factors of 12496 is 14288, the sum of factors of 14288 is 15472, and so on around the chain.

2004 Math. Mag. 77 191 Members of larger cycles are called sociable numbers, and several examples have been found in modern times.

B. n.

†a. A person naturally inclined to live in society. Obsolete.It is unclear whether the second two phrases in quot. 1604 should be taken as definitions of the noun for this sense and sense B. 1b or as informal definitions of the adjective.

ΘΚΠ

society > [noun] > a social being

sociable1618

1604 R. Cawdrey Table Alphabet. Sociable, fellowe like, one that wil keepe company, or one with whom a man may easily keepe company.]

1618 T. Overbury et al. Characters in His Wife (10th impr.) sig. E3^v One that nature made a sociable [1616 (9th impr.) made sociable], because shee made him man, and a crazed disposition hath altered.

b. A person disposed to seek and enjoy the company of others; an affable, friendly person. Also: a socialite.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > social intercourse or companionship > [noun] > sociable person

company-keeper1554

sociable1801

mixer1883

extravert1916

extrovert1918

1801 Port Folio 13 June 187/1 Her ambition was satiated by no quantity of beaux..and..I was drilled by her into the rank of sociables.

1843 Tait's Edinb. Mag. May 330/1 You will be deemed a sociable, a most good-natured fellow.

1927 A. Huxley Proper Stud. 190 The ratio of solitaries to sociables will remain much as it is.

1968 G. D. Suttles Social Order of Slum ii. 27 The sociables..make many people their friends but remain on guard against those who are especially notorious.

2004 Akron (Ohio) Beacon Jrnl. (Nexis) 7 July c6 I pointed out to him some of the sociables who were in the place.

2. U.S. An informal social gathering; a social.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > social event > social gathering > [noun] > evening gathering

conversazione1740

evening party1742

sociable1750

evening1791

soirée1793

Gregory1804

veillée1825

tertulia1828

swarry1837

social evening1844

1750 S. Pierpont Let. 20 May in Hours at Home (1867) 5 420/1 Within doors, it appears in quilting-parties, apple-paring bees..and other evening sociables.

1826 H. W. Longfellow Let. 14 May in S. Longfellow Life H. W. Longfellow (1891) I. vi. 74 I..went with them to a little ‘sociable’ in the evening, where we had dancing.

1888 T. W. Higginson Women & Men 31 She manages the book club and the church sociable.

1950 S. J. Perelman Swiss Family Perelman xi. 186 We went also to a couple of small sociables attended by minor local literati and painters.

2005 Sacramento (Calif.) Bee (Nexis) 4 Sept. m6 The Finger Lakes may have a higher per-capita concentration of creameries and ice cream sociables than any region in the country.

a. An open, four-wheeled carriage with two double seats facing each other and a box seat for the driver. Now historical.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > cart, carriage, or wagon > carriage for conveying persons > [noun] > types of carriage > with seats facing each other > four-wheeled

sociable coach1772

sociable1780

1780 Pennsylvania Jrnl. & Weekly Advertiser 15 Mar. 4/1 Wanted to exchange, a neat sulkey, almost new, for a sociable or handy one horse chair, equally good.

1795 W. Felton Treat. Carriages II. 106 A Sociable is a Phaeton with a double or treble body, and is so called from the number of persons it is meant to carry at one time.

1825–9 M. M. Sherwood Lady of Manor (ed. 2) IV. xix. 120 The sociable and the travelling-carriage were driven up to the door.

1878 Rep. Carriages Paris Exhib. (1879) 8 This shape is becoming very fashionable in Paris, not only in Broughams, but also in Landaus, Victorias, and Sociables.

1929 ‘M. B. Eldershaw’ House is Built i. iv. 117 A sociable drew up at the gate and set down Mrs. Bill's sister.

1991 A. Knight To kill a Queen xii, in Inspector Faro's Casebk.: Second Omnibus (1996) 334 The Queen rode past, her daughter at her side in her favourite open carriage, the ‘sociable’, with Brown on the box.

b. A type of sofa with a curved, typically S-shaped back, on which two people may sit partially facing each other.

ΘΚΠ

society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > seat > sofa or couch > [noun] > for two persons

conversation-chair1793

confidante1794

sociable1811

causeuse1844

love seat1847

tête-à-tête1864

cosy1876

two-seater1891

marquise1904

1811 Sporting Mag. 37 12 Sociables, disoblegiants.

1851 C. Cist Sketches & Statistics Cincinnati 202 Dressing bureaus, sociables, and vis-à-vis are sure to catch the visitor's eye, and to open the visitor's purse.

1872 Atlantic Monthly May 544 She was lying on a little sociable or sofa, as he entered.

1930 V. Sackville-West Edwardians iii. 133 In the centre of the room stood a sociable..on which two persons might sit, facing one another, but properly divided by the arm and wriggle of the S.

1961 L. G. G. Ramsey Connoisseur New Guide Antique Eng. Furnit. 120 The variant known as the ‘sociable’, ‘conversation sofa’, or ‘tête-à-tête’, with the two ends facing each other on the lines of the French ‘causeuse’..was popular for a short time during the 1840's.

1969 Burlington Mag. Nov. 679 (caption) ‘Confidante’ (or ‘sociable’)... State Drawing Room, Osborne House.

c. A bicycle or tricycle with two seats side by side.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > vehicle propelled by feet > [noun] > cycle > tricycle > types of

rantoone1864

rear-steerer1882

sociable1882

box-tricycle1894

bakfiets1956

social cycle1961

1882 Knowledge No. 19. 398/1 Great improvements have been made recently in double tricycles, or, as they are generally called, Sociables.

1888 Pall Mall Gaz. 2 Feb. 5/1 For years..we ploughed along on sociables with a young lady at our side.

1967 Times 11 Mar. 10/7 Standard rate for carrying bicycles, tricycles, velocipedes, ‘sociables’,..street pianos and ice cream carts.

1998 Cycling & Mountain Biking Today Apr. 62/2 The Side-by-Side is a ‘sociable’—the riders sitting beside each other.

d. Any of various motorized vehicles seating two or more people in a specific configuration. Now historical.

ΚΠ

1898 L. Lockert Petroleum Motor-cars xi. 113 The first petroleum car to make a long run was Peugeot's... Fig. 46 shows a light car to seat two persons, and Fig. 47 a sociable to seat four persons.

1909 Chambers's Jrnl. 336/1 The ‘new departure’ sociable rear-car..is the safest sociable that has yet been devised.

1913 Aeroplane 1 May 517/1 Mr. Busteed on ‘sociable’ to Upavon.

2001 Automobile June 54/1 The Sociable..was a three wheeler..with one cylinder, two gears, one brake and tiller steering.

Compounds

sociable weaver n. (also sociable weaver bird) a drab, sparrow-like weaver bird, Philetairus socius (family Ploceidae), of southern Africa, which builds very large communal nests.

ΚΠ

1842 Robert Merry's Mus. 1 3/1 Perhaps the most curious mechanics among the birds, are the Sociable Weavers, found in the southern part of Africa.

1935 Auk 52 259 Birds which build apartment nests, such as..the Sociable Weaver-bird (Philetærus socialis) of Africa, show a still higher degree of sociability and group coöperation during the breeding season.

2005 Trav. Afr. Autumn 38/2 For sheer scale, no avian abode can match the immense thatched apartment block of the sparrow-sized sociable weaver, whose nest may house over 400 birds in up to 100 individual chambers.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	sociable
释义	sociableadj.n. Brit. /ˈsəʊʃəbl/, U.S. /ˈsoʊʃəb(ə)l/ Forms: 1500s– sociable, 1600s socieable (Scottish). Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French sociable; Latin sociābilis. Etymology: < (i) Middle French, French sociable connected with, allied with (a1342), naturally inclined to living in society or in the company of others (c1473; 1635 in sense ‘easy to get along with, affable, gregarious’), proper to or relating to life in society (c1595), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin sociābilis that is easily joined in partnership, (of a partnership) close, intimate < sociāre sociate v. + -bilis -ble suffix. Compare Catalan sociable (15th cent.), Spanish sociable (15th cent.), Portuguese sociavel (1679), Italian sociabile (a1563). Compare earlier sociability n.In sense A. 6 after French sociable ( P. Poulet in L'Intermédiaire des Mathématiciens (1918) 25 101). With senses B. 3c and B. 3d compare French sociable type of cycle with two seats side by side (1889), type of four-wheeled motor vehicle with two seats facing one another (1907 or earlier). A. adj. 1. a. Naturally inclined to be in the company of others of the same species. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > [adjective] > having tendency to fellowlyc1425 fellowlikec1454 sociable1511 gregarious1789 aggregative1837 affiliative1861 1511 Gouernaunce Kynges & Prynces sig. Hii He [sc. man] is a foole, malycyous vntretable. Harde of kynde, and not sociable. 1553 T. Wilson Arte Rhetorique (1580) 56 Euery societie or companiyng together is delitfull,..for asmuche as Nature hath ordeined vs to be sociable, frendly, and louyng together. 1581 A. Fleming Diamond of Deuotion sig. K4 We see that Bees being a sociable creature, that is, apt for companie, flee together in swarmes. 1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 592 It is a very sociable creature, for they do liue togither in heardes aboue a thousand in a flock. 1680 W. Temple Ess. Orig. & Nature Govt. in Wks. (1720) I. 99 What it is that makes some Creatures sociable, and others live and range more alone, or in smaller Companies. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 9. ¶1 Man is said to be a Sociable Animal. 1766 T. Pennant Brit. Zool. ii. 76 Rooks are sociable birds, living in vast flocks; crows only go in pairs. 1824 W. E. Parry Jrnl. Second Voy. Discov. North-west Passage xv. 534 Being a sociable people, they unite in considerable numbers to form a settlement for the winter. 1896 B. Spencer Rep. Horn Sci. Exped. Central Austral. II. 91 Red-breasted pomatostomus..are extremely sociable. 1962 B. W. Leake Eastern Wheatbelt Wildlife 89 The welcome, fairy and white headed swallows are all migratory, the first being very sociable. 1995 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 29 Jan. vi. 6/1 Our ancestors more likely were intensely sociable and cooperative primates. b. In the names of various birds considered to be gregarious. Cf. social adj. 6d. sociable grosbeak n. = sociable weaver n. at Compounds. ΚΠ 1801 J. Latham Gen. Synopsis Birds Suppl. II. 192 Sociable Grosbeak.—Size of a bulfinch;..general colour..rufous brown. 1829 E. Griffith et al. Cuvier's Animal Kingdom VI. 163 The Sociable Vulture, or Oricou. 1875 Encycl. Brit. III. 772 The Sociable Grosbeak of South Africa. 1908 Zoologist 12 122 The Sociable Plovers and other rare birds which showed themselves in Kent. 1921 P. A. Kropotkin Mutual Aid: Factor in Evol. i. 25 The sociable vulture, one of the strongest vultures, has received its very name from its love of society. 1957 Encycl. Brit. X. 907 For ‘sociable grosbeak,’ see weaverbird. 2005 Times (Nexis) 5 Dec. 22 The big attraction was a sociable plover, illustrated left, six months old, discovered on Aveley Pools at Rainham Marshes. 2. a. Of a person, or occasionally an animal: inclined or disposed to seek and enjoy the company of others; friendly or affable in company; disposed to conversation and social activities. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > [adjective] sociable1573 frequent1609 conversative1617 conversablea1631 conversive1661 homiletical1668 social1788 interpersonal1842 1573 G. Harvey Let.-bk. (1884) 5 This is he that accuseth me of not being sociable, him self so sociable as you se. 1602 F. Herring tr. J. Oberndorf Anatomyes True Physition 9 The true Phisition is sociable, and readie to communicate. 1604 F. Trigge Humble Pet. Two Sisters sig. D3^v Christians, to whom he [sc. God] hath giuen that louing and sociable doue of his holy Spirit. 1656 Duchess of Newcastle True Relation in Natures Pictures 374 I durst neither look up with my eyes, nor speak, nor be any way sociable. 1707 E. Ward Wooden World Dissected 91 He e'en..turn'd a sociable Sot, like the rest of his Brethren. a1790 B. Franklin Autobiogr. (1981) i. 40 We had a sociable Company in the Cabin. 1824 S. Smith Amer. in Wks. (1859) II. 47/1 The great inconvenience..is one which more sociable travellers must feel less acutely. 1848 Friends' Rev. 1 542/2 He [sc. a swan] was as sociable as a dog and nearly as attached. 1893 K. L. Bates Eng. Relig. Drama 223 Pity, Contemplation, and Perseverance, sociable old worthies. 1935 Times 20 Aug. 14/4 Sir Evelyn was sociable and sympathetic, fond of sport, and was a good shot in his younger days. 1965 H. J. Eysenck Smoking, Health & Personality iv. 80 The typical extravert is sociable, likes parties, has many friends, needs to have people to talk to, and does not like reading or studying by himself. 2006 Gazette (Montreal) (Nexis) 18 June a14 Alexandra Dorozowsky was a bright, sociable, database programmer who made friends easily. b. With to, with. ΚΠ 1602 T. Lodge tr. Josephus Wks. 617 The Pharisees are sociable and louing one to another. 1693 H. Newcome Disc. Anger To Rdr. sig. A 8^v So unruly a Creature as Man is, within himself, must undergo a great transformation, to make him regularly, and profitably sociable with others. 1715 H. Carey Contrivances 9 Pray do you be civil and sociable with her. 1751 Earl of Orrery Remarks Swift (1752) 3 He was sociable only to particular friends, and to them only at particular hours. 1859 Harper's Mag. Feb. 343/2 She never could make up her mind to be sociable with them, and exchange tea-drinking civilities. 1862 E. Stoddard Morgesons x. 48 He was sociable to those who visited the house; but never with those abiding in his family. 1907 Michigan Law Rev. 5 166 In manner, he was a gentleman, kind and polite to all of every class, sociable to all. 1963 J. Fishman My Darling Clementine vii. 73 Winston and Clementine continued being sociable with the group of admirers. 2006 Star-Phoenix (Saskatoon, Sask.) (Nexis) 8 Dec. a4 A Vancouver Island man..was ejected from a nudist club for failing to be sociable to the other nudists. c. figurative of an inanimate or abstract thing. ΚΠ 1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 181 Nicanor..made a vaine attempt to bring the Euxin and this sea into one, to make it sociable and navigable. a1716 R. South Serm. Several Occasions (1744) XI. 8 This sociable evil [sc. the body], this treacherous companion, is the enticer and betrayer to all sin. 1769 T. Llewellyn Hist. & Crit. Remarks Brit. Tongue ii. i. 66 Some letters will not be sociable and succeed others. 1852 N. Hawthorne Wonder-bk. (1868) 142 That sociablest of flowers, the little Houstonia. 1999 L. Daston in W. Clark et al. Sci. in Enlightened Europe xv. 497 The peculiar light of the enlightened..was a sociable light. It was not the inner light of mystical vision, but rather the outer light of letters, lectures,..journals and conversations. 3. a. Marked or characterized by friendliness or companionship with others; congenial. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > social intercourse or companionship > [adjective] > sociable companablea1387 familiarc1425 fellowlyc1425 companiable1440 fellowable1440 fellowlikec1454 accompanable1548 sociable1573 companionable1593 associable1611 conversablea1684 social1698 easy1714 gregarious1789 aggregative1837 company keeping1839 folksy1852 oncoming1925 mixy1942 outgoing1950 1573 G. Harvey Let.-bk. (1884) 8 These ar ther sociable and fellouli delings. 1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. II. 404 The ciuil and sociable nature, in which God hath created them. 1641 J. Jackson True Evangelical Temper i. 6 Sweet and calme and sociable manners and conversation. 1661 A. Brome Songs & Other Poems sig. G4^v A sociable life and free. 1695 W. Kennett Parochial Antiq. ix. 56 This was a sociable practise of that age. 1781 W. Cowper Let. 9 Dec. (1979) I. 554 Comfortably situated by a good fire, and just entering on a sociable conversation. 1841 M. Elphinstone Hist. India II. vii. i. 99 He had often similar moments of enjoyment, thanks to his sociable habits. 1898 Atlantic Monthly Apr. 506/1 The harvesting of potatoes was a sociable toil. 1924 Times 15 Feb. 5/7 Fives is a very sociable game. You choose your own partner. 1940 H. B. Hough Country Editor xiii. 99 Men and boys stood in stores and on corners uptown..enjoying sociable conversation. 2007 Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 14 Jan. 14 The club..has a bar, a pleasant dining room and a sociable atmosphere. b. Designating an open, four-wheeled carriage that has two double seats facing each other and a box seat for the driver. Chiefly in sociable coach. Now rare. ΘΚΠ society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > cart, carriage, or wagon > carriage for conveying persons > [noun] > types of carriage > with seats facing each other > four-wheeled sociable coach1772 sociable1780 1673 W. Wycherley Gentleman Dancing-master v. i I will have..a large, sociable, well painted Coach. 1772 Town & Co. Mag. 17 In high spirits Maria stepped into Mrs. Benwell's sociable coach. 1859 Mechanics' Mag. 9 Sept. 175/3 A four-wheeled safety sociable carriage. 1861 Times 27 Sept. 2/2 (advt.) A side-light Sociable Coach, in good condition. 1966 North Adams (Mass.) Transcript 26 Feb. 1/1 (headline) Sociable Coach Style Sleigh. †4. a. Able to be combined or joined together. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being combined > [adjective] > combined > capable of being sociable1593 compoundable1682 combinable1749 amalgamable1835 integrable1855 1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie i. iii. 55 Another law there is, which toucheth them as they are sociable partes vnited into one bodie. 1679 I. Newton Let. 28 Feb. in Corr. (1960) II. 292 There is a certain secret principle in nature by wch liquors are sociable to some things & unsociable to others. 1682 N. Grew Of Mixture i. i. §1 in Anat. Plants 231 To render all Bodies Sociable or Mingleable. b. Suitable to be made a companion for others. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > social intercourse or companionship > [adjective] > capable of being made a companion for others sociable1608 1608 N. Breton Divine Considerations sig. G11 God..made him [sc. man] like vnto himselfe.., amiable in his sight, sociable for his Angells, and coheire with his blessed Sonne. 5. Of, for, or relating to society; social. ΘΚΠ society > [adjective] civilc1443 social1579 sociable1641 civic1655 societal1843 societary1844 worldward1848 macrosocial1969 1641 H. L'Estrange Gods Sabbath 62 The equitie of State requireth that particular persons be not inriched any way which reflecteth to the damage of a communitie; upon this sociable equitie, there is a positive, a Statute law inacted. 1680 C. Ness Compl. Church-hist. 39 Peter explains his two sociable duties, Fear God, Honour the King. 1705 F. Atterbury Of Relig. Retirement 8 Pressing upon Men the Exercise of those Graces which adorn the Sociable State. 1776 F. Fowke tr. Cato in tr. Phædrus Fables ii. v. 49 At that same time one in particular..began with his watering-tub to sprinkle the parched ground, displaying his sociable service. 1852 Republic Oct. 250/2 A few years ago, society was more governed than now by sincere and sociable rules; men of family were more privileged in many respects. 1916 Newark (Ohio) Advocate 12 Dec. 4/4 Oh, the joy o' livin' a natural life! Of jest livin' as the common people do with no sociable duties to yerk you. 2005 Finance Week (Nexis) 26 Oct. 5 Part of its OFR preparation will focus on which elements of its corporate sociable responsibility (CSR) programme to incorporate. 6. Mathematics. Designating a cycle of three or more integers such that each is the sum of the factors of the previous one. Cf. amicable number n. at amicable adj. Compounds, perfect adj. 9. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > numerical arrangement > [adjective] > of sets > of sequences > series intermediate1648 converging1728 convergent1816 zeroth1850 tactical1864 oscillatory1893 termwise1903 sociable1964 1964 A. H. Beiler Recreations in Theory of Numbers iv. 28 In passing through such a cycle, one of the sums may turn out to equal the original number and then we have an ‘amicable number of a higher order’ or..a ‘sociable number’. 1970 Math. Computation 24 428 Until now only two groups of sociable numbers were known, respectively of order 5 and 28... I have made an exhaustive search for sociable groups of order t ≦ 10 of which the lesser number is smaller than 6.10⁷. This search has yielded 9 new groups,..all of order 4. 1972 C. S. Ogilvy Tomorrow's Math (ed. 2) v. 113 The numbers 12496→14288→15472→14536→14264→12496 form what has been called a sociable chain of 5 links... The sum of factors of 12496 is 14288, the sum of factors of 14288 is 15472, and so on around the chain. 2004 Math. Mag. 77 191 Members of larger cycles are called sociable numbers, and several examples have been found in modern times. B. n. 1. †a. A person naturally inclined to live in society. Obsolete.It is unclear whether the second two phrases in quot. 1604 should be taken as definitions of the noun for this sense and sense B. 1b or as informal definitions of the adjective. ΘΚΠ society > [noun] > a social being sociable1618 1604 R. Cawdrey Table Alphabet. Sociable, fellowe like, one that wil keepe company, or one with whom a man may easily keepe company.] 1618 T. Overbury et al. Characters in His Wife (10th impr.) sig. E3^v One that nature made a sociable [1616 (9th impr.) made sociable], because shee made him man, and a crazed disposition hath altered. b. A person disposed to seek and enjoy the company of others; an affable, friendly person. Also: a socialite. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > social intercourse or companionship > [noun] > sociable person company-keeper1554 sociable1801 mixer1883 extravert1916 extrovert1918 1801 Port Folio 13 June 187/1 Her ambition was satiated by no quantity of beaux..and..I was drilled by her into the rank of sociables. 1843 Tait's Edinb. Mag. May 330/1 You will be deemed a sociable, a most good-natured fellow. 1927 A. Huxley Proper Stud. 190 The ratio of solitaries to sociables will remain much as it is. 1968 G. D. Suttles Social Order of Slum ii. 27 The sociables..make many people their friends but remain on guard against those who are especially notorious. 2004 Akron (Ohio) Beacon Jrnl. (Nexis) 7 July c6 I pointed out to him some of the sociables who were in the place. 2. U.S. An informal social gathering; a social. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > social event > social gathering > [noun] > evening gathering conversazione1740 evening party1742 sociable1750 evening1791 soirée1793 Gregory1804 veillée1825 tertulia1828 swarry1837 social evening1844 1750 S. Pierpont Let. 20 May in Hours at Home (1867) 5 420/1 Within doors, it appears in quilting-parties, apple-paring bees..and other evening sociables. 1826 H. W. Longfellow Let. 14 May in S. Longfellow Life H. W. Longfellow (1891) I. vi. 74 I..went with them to a little ‘sociable’ in the evening, where we had dancing. 1888 T. W. Higginson Women & Men 31 She manages the book club and the church sociable. 1950 S. J. Perelman Swiss Family Perelman xi. 186 We went also to a couple of small sociables attended by minor local literati and painters. 2005 Sacramento (Calif.) Bee (Nexis) 4 Sept. m6 The Finger Lakes may have a higher per-capita concentration of creameries and ice cream sociables than any region in the country. 3. a. An open, four-wheeled carriage with two double seats facing each other and a box seat for the driver. Now historical. ΘΚΠ society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > cart, carriage, or wagon > carriage for conveying persons > [noun] > types of carriage > with seats facing each other > four-wheeled sociable coach1772 sociable1780 1780 Pennsylvania Jrnl. & Weekly Advertiser 15 Mar. 4/1 Wanted to exchange, a neat sulkey, almost new, for a sociable or handy one horse chair, equally good. 1795 W. Felton Treat. Carriages II. 106 A Sociable is a Phaeton with a double or treble body, and is so called from the number of persons it is meant to carry at one time. 1825–9 M. M. Sherwood Lady of Manor (ed. 2) IV. xix. 120 The sociable and the travelling-carriage were driven up to the door. 1878 Rep. Carriages Paris Exhib. (1879) 8 This shape is becoming very fashionable in Paris, not only in Broughams, but also in Landaus, Victorias, and Sociables. 1929 ‘M. B. Eldershaw’ House is Built i. iv. 117 A sociable drew up at the gate and set down Mrs. Bill's sister. 1991 A. Knight To kill a Queen xii, in Inspector Faro's Casebk.: Second Omnibus (1996) 334 The Queen rode past, her daughter at her side in her favourite open carriage, the ‘sociable’, with Brown on the box. b. A type of sofa with a curved, typically S-shaped back, on which two people may sit partially facing each other. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > seat > sofa or couch > [noun] > for two persons conversation-chair1793 confidante1794 sociable1811 causeuse1844 love seat1847 tête-à-tête1864 cosy1876 two-seater1891 marquise1904 1811 Sporting Mag. 37 12 Sociables, disoblegiants. 1851 C. Cist Sketches & Statistics Cincinnati 202 Dressing bureaus, sociables, and vis-à-vis are sure to catch the visitor's eye, and to open the visitor's purse. 1872 Atlantic Monthly May 544 She was lying on a little sociable or sofa, as he entered. 1930 V. Sackville-West Edwardians iii. 133 In the centre of the room stood a sociable..on which two persons might sit, facing one another, but properly divided by the arm and wriggle of the S. 1961 L. G. G. Ramsey Connoisseur New Guide Antique Eng. Furnit. 120 The variant known as the ‘sociable’, ‘conversation sofa’, or ‘tête-à-tête’, with the two ends facing each other on the lines of the French ‘causeuse’..was popular for a short time during the 1840's. 1969 Burlington Mag. Nov. 679 (caption) ‘Confidante’ (or ‘sociable’)... State Drawing Room, Osborne House. c. A bicycle or tricycle with two seats side by side. ΘΚΠ society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > vehicle propelled by feet > [noun] > cycle > tricycle > types of rantoone1864 rear-steerer1882 sociable1882 box-tricycle1894 bakfiets1956 social cycle1961 1882 Knowledge No. 19. 398/1 Great improvements have been made recently in double tricycles, or, as they are generally called, Sociables. 1888 Pall Mall Gaz. 2 Feb. 5/1 For years..we ploughed along on sociables with a young lady at our side. 1967 Times 11 Mar. 10/7 Standard rate for carrying bicycles, tricycles, velocipedes, ‘sociables’,..street pianos and ice cream carts. 1998 Cycling & Mountain Biking Today Apr. 62/2 The Side-by-Side is a ‘sociable’—the riders sitting beside each other. d. Any of various motorized vehicles seating two or more people in a specific configuration. Now historical. ΚΠ 1898 L. Lockert Petroleum Motor-cars xi. 113 The first petroleum car to make a long run was Peugeot's... Fig. 46 shows a light car to seat two persons, and Fig. 47 a sociable to seat four persons. 1909 Chambers's Jrnl. 336/1 The ‘new departure’ sociable rear-car..is the safest sociable that has yet been devised. 1913 Aeroplane 1 May 517/1 Mr. Busteed on ‘sociable’ to Upavon. 2001 Automobile June 54/1 The Sociable..was a three wheeler..with one cylinder, two gears, one brake and tiller steering. Compounds sociable weaver n. (also sociable weaver bird) a drab, sparrow-like weaver bird, Philetairus socius (family Ploceidae), of southern Africa, which builds very large communal nests. ΚΠ 1842 Robert Merry's Mus. 1 3/1 Perhaps the most curious mechanics among the birds, are the Sociable Weavers, found in the southern part of Africa. 1935 Auk 52 259 Birds which build apartment nests, such as..the Sociable Weaver-bird (Philetærus socialis) of Africa, show a still higher degree of sociability and group coöperation during the breeding season. 2005 Trav. Afr. Autumn 38/2 For sheer scale, no avian abode can match the immense thatched apartment block of the sparrow-sized sociable weaver, whose nest may house over 400 birds in up to 100 individual chambers. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.n.1511
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