a. Also 5 comynycable. [prob. a. F. communicable, on L. type *commūnicābil-is, f. commūnicā-re to COMMUNICATE: see -BLE.]
† 1. Communicating, having communication with others, having inter-communication. Obs.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIII. xx. (1495), 450. Abyssus is depnesse of water that maye neuer be stoppyd ne laued ne emptyd and is comynycable.
1677. Yarranton, Engl. Improv., 177. I will see whether Thames River may be so perfected as Trade by a Water Carriage may be made communicable and Easy. Ibid., 187. Surveying the River Thames, and the Sharwell, to find if they might be made Navigable, and Communicable with the Severne and Avon.
† 2. Pertaining in common. Obs. rare.
a. 1528. Skelton, Prayer Holy Ghost (R.). To the Father, and the Son, thou art communicable In vnitate whiche is inseperable.
[Cf. 1610. s. v. COMMUNICABLY.]
3. That may be communicated or imparted.
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), Dd viij. The goddis … haue made all thynges communicable to men mortall, excepte immortalitie.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 676. Properties of God, communicable to no creature.
1671. Milton, P. R., I. 419. Lost bliss, to thee no more communicable.
1794. G. Adams, Nat. & Exp. Philos., IV. l. 376. The power of attracting iron, etc., possessed by the loadstone, which is communicable to iron and steel.
1869. E. A. Parkes, Pract. Hygiene (ed. 3), 483. An animal poison … communicable from person to person.
b. Of information or the like; cf. COMMUNICATE v. 2, COMMUNICATION 2.
1663. Marvell, Corr., Wks. 1872–5, II. 91. I should do it [i.e., salute you] oftner, were the businesse of the House so … communicable as formerly.
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 124. To none communicable in Earth or Heaven.
† c. Commonly applicable. Obs. rare.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, London, II. 191. The Engine: This general Word, communicable to all Machins or Instruments, use … hath confined to signifie that which is used to quench Scare-fires therein.
† 4. Suitable for communication; serving as a means of imparting information. Obs. rare.
1589. Puttenham, Poesie, III. x. (Arb.), 172. The vulgar instruction requiring also vulgar and communicable termes, not clerkly or vncouthe.
1643. True Informer, 16. In some communicable language (either in French or Latin).
5. Communicative, ready to converse, affable.
1534. Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), D d vj. Be great with the greattest, and communicable with your inferiours. Ibid., G vj. Communicable and conuersaunt with many.
1557. North, trans. Gueuara’s Diall Pr., 80 b/2. Man … was a creature … sociable, communycable, and risyble.
1631. Celestina, VII. 91. This retirednesse is no cure for your disease; you must be free and communicable.
1798. W. Hutton, Autobiog., App. 120. The favourite topics of the communicable old man.
1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, xx. 285. Of a frank and communicable disposition.
