workableadj.

Brit.

/ˈwəːkəbl/, U.S.

/ˈwərkəb(ə)l/

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: work v., -able suffix.

Etymology: < work v. + -able suffix.

a. Of a substance or material: able to be worked, shaped, or manipulated; mouldable.

ΘΠ

the world > space > shape > [adjective] > able to be shaped

formable1495

workable1545

fashionable1607

plastic1791

society > occupation and work > materials > types of material generally > [adjective] > mouldable or workable

freec1300

malleablec1395

pliablec1475

workable1545

hammerable1611

mouldable1626

soluble1650

kind1747

plastic1791

temperable1841

mild1878

manipulable1881

the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > [adjective] > usable

usablea1382

workable1545

employable1588

prevailable1624

enjoyable1645

touchable1822

utilizable1881

1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus ii. f. 22 As the potter most connyngly doth cast his pottes whan his claye is softe & workable.

1629 T. Jackson Treat. Divine Essence ii. 67 Workable or fashionable unto any set forme.

1796 J. Donaldson Mod. Agric. II. xiii. 236 Tanners bark..is esteemed best for strong cold land, which it tends to loosen and separate, so as to render it more free and workable.

1879 Cassell's Techn. Educator v. 299 Many heavy clays..might be made friable, and easily workable by a liberal application of lime.

1911 Jrnl. Soc. Chem. Industry 30 413/2 The author has now succeeded..in producing cellulose acetate solutions which readily gelatinise, and render it possible to produce workable plastic masses such as ‘Cellon’ and ‘Sicoid’.

2008 U. McGovern Lost Crafts (2009) 152 To make barley twists, wait until the syrup has cooled enough to be workable.

b. Of, relating to, or designating coal, ore, or another mineral which admits of extraction by mining or quarrying.

ΘΚΠ

society > occupation and work > industry > mining > [adjective] > mined > capable of being

workable1672

mineable1893

strippable1975

1672 G. Sinclair Hydrostaticks 260 Of carrying on of Levels, for draining the water of Coal and making it workable.

1709 T. Robinson Ess. Nat. Hist. Westmorland & Cumberland ix. 55 It is but eight or nine Inches thick, but the Roof and Covers being strong, it is a workable Coal.

1797 W. Chapman Observ. Syst. Canal Navigation v. 53 Those, whose beds of coal lie nearly horizontal,..and have, at the same time, but one workable seam are under the worst predicaments.

1853 Pharm. Jrnl. & Trans. 13 118 Coal and fireclay, of workable value.

1887 P. McNeill Blawearie 90 The ‘ochre hole’..had been found too wet to be workable.

1900 Trans. Inst. Mining Engineers 18 332 If coal existed in a workable state the depth would constitute no bar to its being wrought.

1965 G. J. Williams Econ. Geol. N.Z. xviii. 302/2 Upper seams tend to be lenticular and rarely of workable thickness.

2010 Afr. Archaeol. Rev. 27 57 He found no workable ore there.

a. Of (the condition of) a machine, device, etc.: that can be worked with, employed, or used, esp. satisfactorily; usable; functional. Hence also of an establishment, institution, system, etc.

ΘΠ

the world > action or operation > [adjective] > capable of being operated

operable1646

workable1756

operatable1895

the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > feasible

openOE

possiblec1384

doablec1443

feasiblec1460

agible?a1475

performable1548

parable1563

practiceable1570

compassable1581

factible1585

effectuable1590

practicable1593

exploitable1611

achievable1634

effectible1646

operable1646

accomplishable1657

perpetrable1680

workable1756

executable1796

expeditable1820

workable1822

powerable1860

runnable1860

manageable1866

actable1876

viable1955

1756 in Naval Chron. (1799) 1 267 I stood off.., to put the ship in a workable state.

1775 W. Marshall Minutes Agric. 24 Aug. (1778) A plow workable in any soil.

1862 S. Smiles Lives Engineers III. 367 Often making a circuit to secure good, workable gradients.

1881 M. E. Braddon Asphodel II. ii. 30 There's not one of 'em knows how to plan a good workable hot-house.

1901 Daily News 28 Feb. 9/1 To realise how much had been done to make the hospital a really workable place.

1945 College Eng. 6 459/2 Basic English..is meant to be a simple, workable international language.

2012 M. Twyman in E. Piola Philadelphia on Stone ii. 75 Eventually a few workable machines were manufactured and put to commercial use.

b. Of a plan, system, solution, etc.: that can be put into practice; practicable, feasible.

ΘΠ

the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > feasible

openOE

possiblec1384

doablec1443

feasiblec1460

agible?a1475

performable1548

parable1563

practiceable1570

compassable1581

factible1585

effectuable1590

practicable1593

exploitable1611

achievable1634

effectible1646

operable1646

accomplishable1657

perpetrable1680

workable1756

executable1796

expeditable1820

workable1822

powerable1860

runnable1860

manageable1866

actable1876

viable1955

1822 Edinb. Mag. & Literary Misc. Apr. 447/1 Amidst all the multiplicity of schemes which we have seen or thought of, there is none so plain, simple, and workable.

1880 Libr. Jrnl. 5 218/1 Some satisfactory and workable plan of operation.

1915 T. H. Dickinson Case Amer. Drama 107 The acceptance by the motion-picture producers of a workable system of moral censorship.

1952 D. S. Thomas et al. Salvage 83 By the middle of March,..it became apparent that voluntary evacuation was not workable.

2003 Daily Tel. 16 Dec. i. 10/2 It was right to ‘take time’ to find a workable solution.

3. Of a person or animal: suitable for work; capable of working. Of a person's age: at which employment is possible or appropriate.

ΘΠ

society > occupation and work > worker > [adjective] > capable of working

workable1798

1798 Ann. Agric. 30 146 Any employment exerciseable by children of the lowest workable age.

1851 H. Mayhew London Labour II. 316/1 Very nearly seven millions of wives and children of a workable age still unoccupied.

1892 Baily's Mag. Nov. 324/2 It [sc. glanders] may continue for a long time, and the horse look fat and well, and be at the same time workable.

1915 Public 9 July 672/2 The factory operator..cried beseechingly for an amendment of the child-labor law which would enable him to get more and cheaper workable children.

1947 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 6 Dec. 134/1 Slavery of workable adults, raping of women, and starvation of children.

2013 M. Brussig & M. Knuth in C. Lindsay & D. Houston Disability Benefits, Welfare Reform & Employm. Policy ix. 154 Disability pensions may be taken up at any workable age.

Derivatives

ˈworkableness n. = workability n.

ΘΠ

the world > action or operation > easiness > [noun] > feasibility

possibilityc1385

feasibility1624

feasibleness1633

possibleness1642

practicableness1648

practicability1665

workableness1791

executibility1801

workability1843

operability1905

performability1941

viability1955

society > occupation and work > materials > types of material generally > working qualities of materials > [noun]

fusibility1624

malleability1644

fusibleness1684

pliability1725

plasticity1727

impermeability1755

unvitrescibility1786

vitrescibility1786

workableness1791

refractoriness1805

pumpability1881

permeability1882

mouldability1890

alkalinity1892

machinability1921

paintability1926

spinnability1939

processability1941

wear-resistance1946

extrudability1981

1791 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse Contents p. viii/2 Tried the workableness of the Rock.

1874 J. Morley On Compromise 2 The immediate and universal workableness of a policy.

1927 Rotarian Feb. 12 Rotarians of thirty-seven nations are demonstrating the workableness of the principle that ‘He profits most who serves best’.

2005 K. L. Schmitz Recovery of Wonder iii. 51 The tendency to put aside the problem of ‘literal truth’ and instead to look for scientific workableness and logical consistency.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	workable
释义	workableadj. Brit. /ˈwəːkəbl/, U.S. /ˈwərkəb(ə)l/ Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: work v., -able suffix. Etymology: < work v. + -able suffix. 1. a. Of a substance or material: able to be worked, shaped, or manipulated; mouldable. ΘΠ the world > space > shape > [adjective] > able to be shaped formable1495 workable1545 fashionable1607 plastic1791 society > occupation and work > materials > types of material generally > [adjective] > mouldable or workable freec1300 malleablec1395 pliablec1475 workable1545 hammerable1611 mouldable1626 soluble1650 kind1747 plastic1791 temperable1841 mild1878 manipulable1881 the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > [adjective] > usable usablea1382 workable1545 employable1588 prevailable1624 enjoyable1645 touchable1822 utilizable1881 1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus ii. f. 22 As the potter most connyngly doth cast his pottes whan his claye is softe & workable. 1629 T. Jackson Treat. Divine Essence ii. 67 Workable or fashionable unto any set forme. 1796 J. Donaldson Mod. Agric. II. xiii. 236 Tanners bark..is esteemed best for strong cold land, which it tends to loosen and separate, so as to render it more free and workable. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educator v. 299 Many heavy clays..might be made friable, and easily workable by a liberal application of lime. 1911 Jrnl. Soc. Chem. Industry 30 413/2 The author has now succeeded..in producing cellulose acetate solutions which readily gelatinise, and render it possible to produce workable plastic masses such as ‘Cellon’ and ‘Sicoid’. 2008 U. McGovern Lost Crafts (2009) 152 To make barley twists, wait until the syrup has cooled enough to be workable. b. Of, relating to, or designating coal, ore, or another mineral which admits of extraction by mining or quarrying. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > mining > [adjective] > mined > capable of being workable1672 mineable1893 strippable1975 1672 G. Sinclair Hydrostaticks 260 Of carrying on of Levels, for draining the water of Coal and making it workable. 1709 T. Robinson Ess. Nat. Hist. Westmorland & Cumberland ix. 55 It is but eight or nine Inches thick, but the Roof and Covers being strong, it is a workable Coal. 1797 W. Chapman Observ. Syst. Canal Navigation v. 53 Those, whose beds of coal lie nearly horizontal,..and have, at the same time, but one workable seam are under the worst predicaments. 1853 Pharm. Jrnl. & Trans. 13 118 Coal and fireclay, of workable value. 1887 P. McNeill Blawearie 90 The ‘ochre hole’..had been found too wet to be workable. 1900 Trans. Inst. Mining Engineers 18 332 If coal existed in a workable state the depth would constitute no bar to its being wrought. 1965 G. J. Williams Econ. Geol. N.Z. xviii. 302/2 Upper seams tend to be lenticular and rarely of workable thickness. 2010 Afr. Archaeol. Rev. 27 57 He found no workable ore there. 2. a. Of (the condition of) a machine, device, etc.: that can be worked with, employed, or used, esp. satisfactorily; usable; functional. Hence also of an establishment, institution, system, etc. ΘΠ the world > action or operation > [adjective] > capable of being operated operable1646 workable1756 operatable1895 the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > feasible openOE possiblec1384 doablec1443 feasiblec1460 agible?a1475 performable1548 parable1563 practiceable1570 compassable1581 factible1585 effectuable1590 practicable1593 exploitable1611 achievable1634 effectible1646 operable1646 accomplishable1657 perpetrable1680 workable1756 executable1796 expeditable1820 workable1822 powerable1860 runnable1860 manageable1866 actable1876 viable1955 1756 in Naval Chron. (1799) 1 267 I stood off.., to put the ship in a workable state. 1775 W. Marshall Minutes Agric. 24 Aug. (1778) A plow workable in any soil. 1862 S. Smiles Lives Engineers III. 367 Often making a circuit to secure good, workable gradients. 1881 M. E. Braddon Asphodel II. ii. 30 There's not one of 'em knows how to plan a good workable hot-house. 1901 Daily News 28 Feb. 9/1 To realise how much had been done to make the hospital a really workable place. 1945 College Eng. 6 459/2 Basic English..is meant to be a simple, workable international language. 2012 M. Twyman in E. Piola Philadelphia on Stone ii. 75 Eventually a few workable machines were manufactured and put to commercial use. b. Of a plan, system, solution, etc.: that can be put into practice; practicable, feasible. ΘΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > [adjective] > feasible openOE possiblec1384 doablec1443 feasiblec1460 agible?a1475 performable1548 parable1563 practiceable1570 compassable1581 factible1585 effectuable1590 practicable1593 exploitable1611 achievable1634 effectible1646 operable1646 accomplishable1657 perpetrable1680 workable1756 executable1796 expeditable1820 workable1822 powerable1860 runnable1860 manageable1866 actable1876 viable1955 1822 Edinb. Mag. & Literary Misc. Apr. 447/1 Amidst all the multiplicity of schemes which we have seen or thought of, there is none so plain, simple, and workable. 1880 Libr. Jrnl. 5 218/1 Some satisfactory and workable plan of operation. 1915 T. H. Dickinson Case Amer. Drama 107 The acceptance by the motion-picture producers of a workable system of moral censorship. 1952 D. S. Thomas et al. Salvage 83 By the middle of March,..it became apparent that voluntary evacuation was not workable. 2003 Daily Tel. 16 Dec. i. 10/2 It was right to ‘take time’ to find a workable solution. 3. Of a person or animal: suitable for work; capable of working. Of a person's age: at which employment is possible or appropriate. ΘΠ society > occupation and work > worker > [adjective] > capable of working workable1798 1798 Ann. Agric. 30 146 Any employment exerciseable by children of the lowest workable age. 1851 H. Mayhew London Labour II. 316/1 Very nearly seven millions of wives and children of a workable age still unoccupied. 1892 Baily's Mag. Nov. 324/2 It [sc. glanders] may continue for a long time, and the horse look fat and well, and be at the same time workable. 1915 Public 9 July 672/2 The factory operator..cried beseechingly for an amendment of the child-labor law which would enable him to get more and cheaper workable children. 1947 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 6 Dec. 134/1 Slavery of workable adults, raping of women, and starvation of children. 2013 M. Brussig & M. Knuth in C. Lindsay & D. Houston Disability Benefits, Welfare Reform & Employm. Policy ix. 154 Disability pensions may be taken up at any workable age. Derivatives ˈworkableness n. = workability n. ΘΠ the world > action or operation > easiness > [noun] > feasibility possibilityc1385 feasibility1624 feasibleness1633 possibleness1642 practicableness1648 practicability1665 workableness1791 executibility1801 workability1843 operability1905 performability1941 viability1955 society > occupation and work > materials > types of material generally > working qualities of materials > [noun] fusibility1624 malleability1644 fusibleness1684 pliability1725 plasticity1727 impermeability1755 unvitrescibility1786 vitrescibility1786 workableness1791 refractoriness1805 pumpability1881 permeability1882 mouldability1890 alkalinity1892 machinability1921 paintability1926 spinnability1939 processability1941 wear-resistance1946 extrudability1981 1791 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse Contents p. viii/2 Tried the workableness of the Rock. 1874 J. Morley On Compromise 2 The immediate and universal workableness of a policy. 1927 Rotarian Feb. 12 Rotarians of thirty-seven nations are demonstrating the workableness of the principle that ‘He profits most who serves best’. 2005 K. L. Schmitz Recovery of Wonder iii. 51 The tendency to put aside the problem of ‘literal truth’ and instead to look for scientific workableness and logical consistency. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2014; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < adj.1545
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