passibility
(pæsɪˈbɪlɪtɪ)
[ad. late L. passibilitās (Arnobius), f. passibilis: see -ity. Cf. F. passibilité (15th c.), OF. passibleté.]
The quality of being passible; capability of suffering, or of receiving impressions from external agents.
| a 1340 Hampole Psalter lxv. 10 Þou led vs in til þe snare of passibilite. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P. R. viii. i. (Bodl. MS.), Þis worlde..schal passe touchinge þis passibilitie and kinde and schappe þat it haþ nowȝe, butte it schal abide euer⁓more touchinge þe substaunce. 1555 Bonner Homilies 69 The fourmes and qualities sensible, which in dede are subiecte to passibilitie. 1622 Donne Serm. i. (1640) 2 He was defective in nothing; not in Power, as God, not in passibility, as man. 1893 Fairbairn Christ in Mod. Theol. ii. ii. iii. ii. 483 The very truth that came by Jesus Christ may be said to be summed up in the passibility of God. |
† b. Passiveness; inaction; sloth. Obs. rare.
| 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 119 Sa kepis the vertu cardinale the activitee, or passibilitee of mannis governaunce in his lyf. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 228 b, Shall brynge with them theyr olde grosnes, heuynes, & passibilite. |