volubilityn.

Brit.

/ˌvɒljᵿˈbɪlᵻti/, U.S.

/ˌvɑljəˈbɪlᵻdi/

Forms: Also 1500s–1600s -itie, 1600s -itye.

Etymology: < French volubilité (15–16th cent.; = Italian volubilità , Spanish -idad , Portuguese -idade ), or < Latin volūbilitās , < volūbilis : see volubilous adj. and -ity suffix.

I. Quickness or readiness of movement; mutability.

†1.

a. Quickness in turning from one object to another; versatility. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > [noun] > many-sidedness or versatility

volubility1579

ambidexterity1593

versatilousness1640

versatileness1654

versability1672

versatilitya1773

versatility1798

flexility1815

manysidedness1831

Crichtonism1854

multisidedness1903

omnicompetence1937

1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini Hist. Guicciardin i. 4 The wisedome and reputacion of the man togither with the naturall volubilitie of his witte.

1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Rr4 Orators..by the obseruing their well graced fourmes of speech..leese the volubilitie of Application.

†b. Ready variation of expression. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > face with expression or expression > [noun] > variation of expression

volubility1659

mobility1839

1659 J. Harrington Valerius & Publicola 18 If you speak of Israel, Athens, Rome, Venice, or the like, they hear you with volubility of countenance.

a. The capacity of revolving, rolling, or turning round; aptness to rotate about an axis or centre.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > motion in specific manner > revolution or rotation > [noun] > capacity for

volubility1593

verticity1672

revolvency1785

1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie i. iii. 53 If celestiall spheres should forget their wonted motions and by irregular volubilitie, turne themselues any way as it might happen.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 31 The world with continuall volubilitie and turning about it, driveth the..globe thereof into the forme of a round ball.

1656 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. II. viii. 26 He who thrust the Cylinder, gave it the beginning of motion, but did not give it volubility.

1687 A. Lovell tr. C. de Bergerac Comical Hist. 86 It began to be out of my power any more to discern the Diversity of their several Motions by reason of their extream Volubility.

1705 C. Purshall Ess. Mechanism Macrocosm 296 They lose their Fluidity, which depends upon the Volubility of Globular Particles at liberty.

1740 G. Cheyne Ess. Regimen 75 Blood Globules, by their Rotundity, Volubility, and Elasticity, resist Trituration, that is, Digestion.

1754 Dict. Arts & Sci. at Needle In the construction of the horizontal needle a piece of pure steel is provided, of a length not exceeding six inches, lest its weight impede its volubility.

1871 R. Browning Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau 132 Under pretence of making fast and sure The inch [of ascent] gained by late volubility.

b. Of the eye: readiness in moving. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > eye > [noun] > movements of eye

rollinga1500

volubility1603

flexion1626

roving1658

eye-rolling1837

run1837

sursumversion1897

extorsion1899

vergence1902

eye-roll1928

1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 1275 The cheerefull cast & amiable volubility of his quicke eie.

†3. Capacity for moving in an easy or gliding manner. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > movement > progressive motion > specific manner of progressive motion > [noun] > smoothly > capacity for

volubility1605

1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Vv4 Except men know exactly all the conditions of the Serpent:..his volubility and lubricity.

1610 J. Guillim Display of Heraldrie iii. xviii. 153 Such Creatures..which..as it were slide from place to place, some more slowlie, but othersome with a certaine Volubility and flexible Agitation of the Bodie.

1653 T. Watson Αυταρκεια xi. 184 The Poets painted time with wings, to shew the volubility and swiftnesse of it.

†4. Tendency to change or turn from one condition to another; changeableness, mutability, inconstancy. Obsolete.

a. Of persons.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [noun]

unsteadfastnessa1300

falsenessc1330

unstablenessc1380

varyingc1380

inconstancec1386

variance1390

geriness1412

instabilityc1422

changeability?a1425

mutabilitya1425

changec1425

changeableness1447

unconstancec1449

unstabilitya1470

mutableness1481

unsureness1481

instableness1483

variation1509

inconstancy1526

shittleness1530

fickleness1548

unconstancy1548

unconstantness1551

inconstantness?a1562

pliableness1562

fast and loose1575

volubility1603

levity1604

unconstability1611

flexibleness1623

vagrancy1642

self-inconsistency1655

inconsistency1665

flittingnessa1680

easiness1705

inconsistence1713

versatility1755

contrariety1762

vibration1785

changefulness1791

girouettism1825

pirouettism1839

weathercockism1843

pirouettiveness1844

volatileness1849

unfixity1856

ficklety1888

1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. ii. i. 195 Whosoever shall heedefully survay and consider himselfe, shall finde this volubilitie and discordance to be in himselfe.

1613 A. Sherley Relation Trav. Persia 136 The world by taking notice of your infirmitie will alwayes feare volubilitie in all your actions.

a1660 Aphorismical Discov. in J. T. Gilbert Contemp. Hist. Ireland (1879) I. 204 All the lawe, phisicke, and poetrie in the world canot cure or amende the flexibilitie, volubilitie, inconstancie, and treacherie of this man.

b. Of fortune or affairs.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > change > alternation > change of fortune > [noun]

foldingc1440

mail-wryc1475

varietya1533

volubility1609

1609 P. Holland tr. Ammianus Marcellinus Rom. Hist. 286 The volubilitie of inconstant fortune produceth these occurrences in the East parts.

1670 R. Graham Angliæ Speculum Morale 1 All affairs do resemble the great Machines of Heaven and Earth, in their motion and volubility.

1699 T. Cockman tr. Cicero Offices i. xxvi. 88 The great Volubility and Changeableness of Fortune.

II. Capacity for or ease of utterance; garrulousness.

a. Ready flow of speech, etc.

ΚΠ

1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie ii. v. 64 Which flowing of wordes with much volubilitie smoothly proceeding from the mouth is in some sort harmonicall.

1653 Bp. J. Taylor Ενιαυτος: Course of Serm. i. ii. 15 Some men..explicate our praying in the Spirit, by a mere volubilty [sic] of language.

1656 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. II. v. 159 Cicero being at Athens heard him, and was much taken with the eloquence and volubility of his discourse.

1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xvi. 556 The General was not a Man of Eloquence or Volubility of Speech.

1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. iv. 64 This unrestrained Volubility and Wantonness of Speech is the Occasion of numberless Evils.

1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Odyssey in Iliad & Odyssey II. xviii. 32 Gods! with what volubility of speech The table hunter prates.

1828 C. Lamb Old Margate Hoy in Elia 2nd Ser. 31 A..young man..with..an insuppressible volubility of assertion.

1836 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece III. 11 The sweetness of voice, and the volubility of utterance, with which both [Pisistratus and Cimon] expressed themselves.

b. Smooth, easy, or copious flow of verse or poetic utterance.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > [noun] > flow of speech > quality of flowing

volubility1589

society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > versification > rhythm > [noun] > rhythmic flow

volubility1589

run1693

1589 T. Nashe To Students in R. Greene Menaphon Epist. sig. ** The spacious volubilitie of a drumming decasillabon.

1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 92. ⁋11 The verse intended to represent the whisper of the vernal breeze, must be confessed not much to excel in softness or volubility.

1779 S. Johnson Pomfret in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets IV. 3 In his other poems there is an easy volubility.

6. The character or state of being voluble in speech; great fluency of language; readiness of speech; garrulousness.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > loquacity or talkativeness > [noun]

overspeecheOE

tongue-itch1540

multiloquy1542

long tongue1557

garrulity1581

slipperiness1589

polylogy1602

volubility1602

loquacity1603

lubricity1603

tonguiness1607

overspeakinga1610

talkativeness1609

philology1623

tongue-vice1628

glibness1633

futility1640

linguacity1656

garrulousness1727

linguosity1727

loquaciousness1727

multiloquiousness1727

jaw1748

multiloquence1760

flippancy1789

verbal diarrhoea1808

magpiety1832

big mouth1834

pleniloquence1838

chattiness1876

open-mouthedness1883

gabbiness1887

garrulance1890

irreticence1919

talkiness1934

ear-bashing1945

mee-mawing1974

1602 J. Marston Hist. Antonio & Mellida ii. sig. C4^v You haue the most gracefull presence,..amazing volubility,..delicious affabilitie.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) ii. i. 175 Say she be mute, and will not speake a word, Then Ile commend her volubility .

1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa i. i. 13 It was my fortune to hear a Franciscan Preach.., but with more Volubility than Virtue.

1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 115. ⁋5 His great Volubility and inimitable Manner of Speaking.

1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 157. ⁋8 Long familiarity with my subject enabled me to discourse with ease and volubility.

1781 Compl. Mod. London Spy 118 The following account, which she delivered with great volubility.

1826 F. Reynolds Life & Times II. 11 He took the lead in conversation, and his natural volubility, increased by sudden joy, carried all before it.

1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xi. 25 Before he had been a member three weeks, his volubility, his asperity, and his pertinacity had made him conspicuous.

1875 H. James Mme. de Mauves i Her volubility was less suggestive than the latter's silence.

a. Extreme readiness of the tongue in respect of speech or discourse.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > loquacity or talkativeness > [noun] > readiness of tongue

volubility1612

1612 W. Martyn Youths Instr. 99 The volubilitie of a smooth tongue is nothing profitable.

1650 R. Stapleton tr. F. Strada De Bello Belgico iii. 67 A Counsellour of great subtilty and volubility of tongue.

1699 S. Garth Dispensary iii. 36 Both had the Volubility of Tongue, In Meaning faint, but in Opinion strong.

1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 252. ⁋3 You have mentioned only the Volubility of their Tongue.

1755 T. Smollett tr. M. de Cervantes Don Quixote I. iv. i. 197 All this preamble was uttered..with such volubility of tongue..that they admired her good sense as much as her beauty.

b. Similarly of the throat, voice, etc.

ΚΠ

1740 C. Cibber Apol. Life C. Cibber xii. 225 In Volubility of Throat, the former [singer] had much the Superiority.

1769 O. Goldsmith Rom. Hist. II. 225 He..used all those methods which singers practice, either to mend the voice, or improve its volubility.

1884 Encycl. Brit. XVII. 98/2 These [harmonics on horns and trumpets] they executed with volubility akin to that displayed on fingered instruments.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1920; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	volubility
释义	volubilityn. Brit. /ˌvɒljᵿˈbɪlᵻti/, U.S. /ˌvɑljəˈbɪlᵻdi/ Forms: Also 1500s–1600s -itie, 1600s -itye. Etymology: < French volubilité (15–16th cent.; = Italian volubilità , Spanish -idad , Portuguese -idade ), or < Latin volūbilitās , < volūbilis : see volubilous adj. and -ity suffix. I. Quickness or readiness of movement; mutability. †1. a. Quickness in turning from one object to another; versatility. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > [noun] > many-sidedness or versatility volubility1579 ambidexterity1593 versatilousness1640 versatileness1654 versability1672 versatilitya1773 versatility1798 flexility1815 manysidedness1831 Crichtonism1854 multisidedness1903 omnicompetence1937 1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini Hist. Guicciardin i. 4 The wisedome and reputacion of the man togither with the naturall volubilitie of his witte. 1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Rr4 Orators..by the obseruing their well graced fourmes of speech..leese the volubilitie of Application. View more context for this quotation †b. Ready variation of expression. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > face with expression or expression > [noun] > variation of expression volubility1659 mobility1839 1659 J. Harrington Valerius & Publicola 18 If you speak of Israel, Athens, Rome, Venice, or the like, they hear you with volubility of countenance. 2. a. The capacity of revolving, rolling, or turning round; aptness to rotate about an axis or centre. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > motion in specific manner > revolution or rotation > [noun] > capacity for volubility1593 verticity1672 revolvency1785 1593 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie i. iii. 53 If celestiall spheres should forget their wonted motions and by irregular volubilitie, turne themselues any way as it might happen. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 31 The world with continuall volubilitie and turning about it, driveth the..globe thereof into the forme of a round ball. 1656 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. II. viii. 26 He who thrust the Cylinder, gave it the beginning of motion, but did not give it volubility. 1687 A. Lovell tr. C. de Bergerac Comical Hist. 86 It began to be out of my power any more to discern the Diversity of their several Motions by reason of their extream Volubility. 1705 C. Purshall Ess. Mechanism Macrocosm 296 They lose their Fluidity, which depends upon the Volubility of Globular Particles at liberty. 1740 G. Cheyne Ess. Regimen 75 Blood Globules, by their Rotundity, Volubility, and Elasticity, resist Trituration, that is, Digestion. 1754 Dict. Arts & Sci. at Needle In the construction of the horizontal needle a piece of pure steel is provided, of a length not exceeding six inches, lest its weight impede its volubility. 1871 R. Browning Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau 132 Under pretence of making fast and sure The inch [of ascent] gained by late volubility. b. Of the eye: readiness in moving. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > external parts of body > head > face > eye > [noun] > movements of eye rollinga1500 volubility1603 flexion1626 roving1658 eye-rolling1837 run1837 sursumversion1897 extorsion1899 vergence1902 eye-roll1928 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 1275 The cheerefull cast & amiable volubility of his quicke eie. †3. Capacity for moving in an easy or gliding manner. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > progressive motion > specific manner of progressive motion > [noun] > smoothly > capacity for volubility1605 1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Vv4 Except men know exactly all the conditions of the Serpent:..his volubility and lubricity. View more context for this quotation 1610 J. Guillim Display of Heraldrie iii. xviii. 153 Such Creatures..which..as it were slide from place to place, some more slowlie, but othersome with a certaine Volubility and flexible Agitation of the Bodie. 1653 T. Watson Αυταρκεια xi. 184 The Poets painted time with wings, to shew the volubility and swiftnesse of it. †4. Tendency to change or turn from one condition to another; changeableness, mutability, inconstancy. Obsolete. a. Of persons. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [noun] unsteadfastnessa1300 falsenessc1330 unstablenessc1380 varyingc1380 inconstancec1386 variance1390 geriness1412 instabilityc1422 changeability?a1425 mutabilitya1425 changec1425 changeableness1447 unconstancec1449 unstabilitya1470 mutableness1481 unsureness1481 instableness1483 variation1509 inconstancy1526 shittleness1530 fickleness1548 unconstancy1548 unconstantness1551 inconstantness?a1562 pliableness1562 fast and loose1575 volubility1603 levity1604 unconstability1611 flexibleness1623 vagrancy1642 self-inconsistency1655 inconsistency1665 flittingnessa1680 easiness1705 inconsistence1713 versatility1755 contrariety1762 vibration1785 changefulness1791 girouettism1825 pirouettism1839 weathercockism1843 pirouettiveness1844 volatileness1849 unfixity1856 ficklety1888 1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. ii. i. 195 Whosoever shall heedefully survay and consider himselfe, shall finde this volubilitie and discordance to be in himselfe. 1613 A. Sherley Relation Trav. Persia 136 The world by taking notice of your infirmitie will alwayes feare volubilitie in all your actions. a1660 Aphorismical Discov. in J. T. Gilbert Contemp. Hist. Ireland (1879) I. 204 All the lawe, phisicke, and poetrie in the world canot cure or amende the flexibilitie, volubilitie, inconstancie, and treacherie of this man. b. Of fortune or affairs. ΘΚΠ the world > time > change > alternation > change of fortune > [noun] foldingc1440 mail-wryc1475 varietya1533 volubility1609 1609 P. Holland tr. Ammianus Marcellinus Rom. Hist. 286 The volubilitie of inconstant fortune produceth these occurrences in the East parts. 1670 R. Graham Angliæ Speculum Morale 1 All affairs do resemble the great Machines of Heaven and Earth, in their motion and volubility. 1699 T. Cockman tr. Cicero Offices i. xxvi. 88 The great Volubility and Changeableness of Fortune. II. Capacity for or ease of utterance; garrulousness. 5. a. Ready flow of speech, etc. ΚΠ 1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie ii. v. 64 Which flowing of wordes with much volubilitie smoothly proceeding from the mouth is in some sort harmonicall. 1653 Bp. J. Taylor Ενιαυτος: Course of Serm. i. ii. 15 Some men..explicate our praying in the Spirit, by a mere volubilty [sic] of language. 1656 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. II. v. 159 Cicero being at Athens heard him, and was much taken with the eloquence and volubility of his discourse. 1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xvi. 556 The General was not a Man of Eloquence or Volubility of Speech. 1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. iv. 64 This unrestrained Volubility and Wantonness of Speech is the Occasion of numberless Evils. 1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Odyssey in Iliad & Odyssey II. xviii. 32 Gods! with what volubility of speech The table hunter prates. 1828 C. Lamb Old Margate Hoy in Elia 2nd Ser. 31 A..young man..with..an insuppressible volubility of assertion. 1836 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece III. 11 The sweetness of voice, and the volubility of utterance, with which both [Pisistratus and Cimon] expressed themselves. b. Smooth, easy, or copious flow of verse or poetic utterance. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > [noun] > flow of speech > quality of flowing volubility1589 society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > versification > rhythm > [noun] > rhythmic flow volubility1589 run1693 1589 T. Nashe To Students in R. Greene Menaphon Epist. sig. ** The spacious volubilitie of a drumming decasillabon. 1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 92. ⁋11 The verse intended to represent the whisper of the vernal breeze, must be confessed not much to excel in softness or volubility. 1779 S. Johnson Pomfret in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets IV. 3 In his other poems there is an easy volubility. 6. The character or state of being voluble in speech; great fluency of language; readiness of speech; garrulousness. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > loquacity or talkativeness > [noun] overspeecheOE tongue-itch1540 multiloquy1542 long tongue1557 garrulity1581 slipperiness1589 polylogy1602 volubility1602 loquacity1603 lubricity1603 tonguiness1607 overspeakinga1610 talkativeness1609 philology1623 tongue-vice1628 glibness1633 futility1640 linguacity1656 garrulousness1727 linguosity1727 loquaciousness1727 multiloquiousness1727 jaw1748 multiloquence1760 flippancy1789 verbal diarrhoea1808 magpiety1832 big mouth1834 pleniloquence1838 chattiness1876 open-mouthedness1883 gabbiness1887 garrulance1890 irreticence1919 talkiness1934 ear-bashing1945 mee-mawing1974 1602 J. Marston Hist. Antonio & Mellida ii. sig. C4^v You haue the most gracefull presence,..amazing volubility,..delicious affabilitie. a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) ii. i. 175 Say she be mute, and will not speake a word, Then Ile commend her volubility . View more context for this quotation 1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa i. i. 13 It was my fortune to hear a Franciscan Preach.., but with more Volubility than Virtue. 1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 115. ⁋5 His great Volubility and inimitable Manner of Speaking. 1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 157. ⁋8 Long familiarity with my subject enabled me to discourse with ease and volubility. 1781 Compl. Mod. London Spy 118 The following account, which she delivered with great volubility. 1826 F. Reynolds Life & Times II. 11 He took the lead in conversation, and his natural volubility, increased by sudden joy, carried all before it. 1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xi. 25 Before he had been a member three weeks, his volubility, his asperity, and his pertinacity had made him conspicuous. 1875 H. James Mme. de Mauves i Her volubility was less suggestive than the latter's silence. 7. a. Extreme readiness of the tongue in respect of speech or discourse. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > loquacity or talkativeness > [noun] > readiness of tongue volubility1612 1612 W. Martyn Youths Instr. 99 The volubilitie of a smooth tongue is nothing profitable. 1650 R. Stapleton tr. F. Strada De Bello Belgico iii. 67 A Counsellour of great subtilty and volubility of tongue. 1699 S. Garth Dispensary iii. 36 Both had the Volubility of Tongue, In Meaning faint, but in Opinion strong. 1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 252. ⁋3 You have mentioned only the Volubility of their Tongue. 1755 T. Smollett tr. M. de Cervantes Don Quixote I. iv. i. 197 All this preamble was uttered..with such volubility of tongue..that they admired her good sense as much as her beauty. b. Similarly of the throat, voice, etc. ΚΠ 1740 C. Cibber Apol. Life C. Cibber xii. 225 In Volubility of Throat, the former [singer] had much the Superiority. 1769 O. Goldsmith Rom. Hist. II. 225 He..used all those methods which singers practice, either to mend the voice, or improve its volubility. 1884 Encycl. Brit. XVII. 98/2 These [harmonics on horns and trumpets] they executed with volubility akin to that displayed on fingered instruments. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1920; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < n.1579
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