penetrable, a. (n.)
(ˈpɛnɪtrəb(ə)l)
[ad. L. penetrābilis, f. penetrāre (see penetrate and -ble), perh. through F. pénétrable (Oresme a 1400).]
† 1. Having the quality or capacity of penetrating; penetrative, penetrating (lit. and fig.). Obs.
| 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy iii. xxviii. (MS. Digby 230) lf. 134/1 Bawme natural That ran..Thoruȝ necke & hede in to many place, Penitrable by veynes of the face. 1430–40 ― Bochas iii. (MS. Bodl. 263) lf. 193/2 Ther poynant poison is so penetrable. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII 187 b, His graces sight was so quike and penetrable that he saw him, ye and saw through him. 1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 51 b/2 The penetrable coulde is allsoe a sore enimye to all woundes in the Heade. 1668 H. More Div. Dial., Schol. (1713) 536 A Substance..most perfectly penetrable, which entirely passeth through every thing. |
2. Capable of being penetrated or pierced; into or through which access may be gained. a. lit. (also in reference to sight).
| 1538 Elyot, Peruius..that maye be gone in, penetrable. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 86 It is not penetrable by the eye of man. 1745 P. Thomas Jrnl. Anson's Voy. 12 Thick Woods so entangled with Undergrowth that..they are scarce penetrable. 1856 Kane Arct. Expl. II. 300 Our destination was to the highest penetrable point of Baffin's Bay. |
b. fig. Capable of being penetrated by something immaterial, as reasoning, feeling, or thought; capable of being affected, susceptible; capable of being mentally seen into or through, discoverable.
| 1593 Shakes. Lucr. 559 His heart granteth No penetrable entrance to her playning. 1594 ― Rich. III, iii. vii. 225, I am not made of Stones, But penetrable to your kinde entreaties. 1602 ― Ham. iii. iv. 36. 1755 Young Centaur iii. Wks. 1757 IV. 186 Such a groan. It would eccho for ever in a penetrable ear. 1840 Tait's Mag. VII. 275 The heads of the peasantry may be thick, but they are penetrable. 1869 Ruskin Q. of Air §5 Involved in great, though attractive and penetrable, mystery. |
B. n. (pl.) Penetrable bodies or substances.
| 1658 Bromhall Treat. Specters iv. 277 The water..doth purge and water all penetrables. |
Hence ˈpenetrableness, penetrability; ˈpenetrably adv. † (a) penetratingly (obs.); (b) so as to be penetrable.
| 1594 Nashe Terrors of Nt. Wks. (Grosart) III. 274 To make their prayers more penetrably enforcing. 1678 Cudworth Intell. Syst. i. v. 769 That which is Extended also, but Penetrably and Intangibly. 1684 Boyle Porousn. Solid Bod. v. 41 The penetrableness of Membranes to Fumes. |