| 释义 |
payable, a.|ˈpeɪəb(ə)l|
[f. pay v.1 + -able. Cf. F. payable (13th c. in Godef.), It. pagabile.]
1. Comm. Of a sum of money, a bill, etc.: That is to be paid; due, owing; falling due (usu. at or on a specified date or to a specified person).
1447–8in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) I. 400 Item paiable of the seid assignement at the festes of the Anunc' of oure lady..and saint michell [etc.]. 1590Sir F. Walsingham in Wills Doctors' Com. (Camden) 70 After the satisfyinge of all things paieable by her as executor. 1688Col. Rec. Pennsylv. I. 233 Drew a bill payable to y⊇ Chief Proprietor. 1725Berkeley Let. to T. Prior 3 June, Wks. 1871 IV. 111 A bill of forty pounds, payable here at the shortest sight. 1887R. Buchanan Heir of Linne iv, To whom can I make the cheque payable?
b. Of a person: That is to be paid; whose services or salary is to be paid. rare.
1617Moryson Itin. ii. 52 Diuers Officers payable out of the reuenues.
2. That can be paid; capable of being paid. rare.
a1716South Serm. (J.), Thanks are a tribute payable by the poorest.
3. Mining. (In active sense.) Of a mine, a bed of ore, a vein of metal, etc.: That can be made to pay, or yield an adequate return for the cost of working; capable of being profitably worked. Hence transf. in general sense: Capable of yielding profit, commercially profitable; paying.
1859Cornwallis New World I. 361 Positive individuals there are, who still assert that gold will one day be discovered in this region, in payable abundance. 1879R. J. Atcherley Boërland 117 Never again did we hit upon payable gold, although we burrowed..like rabbits. 1887H. W. Daly Digging & Squatting S. Austr. 266 The Northern Territory only requires capital..to become a fine and payable country. 1901Scotsman 5 Mar. 7/1 An opportunity..to put the Tay ferries on a more payable basis.
Hence ˈpayably adv. (cf. sense 3).
1878Ure's Dict. Arts IV. 427 Their lower beds have been found to be payably auriferous. |