a. [f. prec. vb. + -ABLE.] Capable of being controlled or restrained.
a. 1600. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VII. v. § 2. They were all controllable by the Apostles.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 159, ¶ 8. It is to suppose custom instantaneously controllable by reason.
1871. Member for Paris, I. 231. The voice of the speaker … gathered firmness and became controllable.
1883. Times, 23 Jan., 3/4. The ‘controllable’ [torpedoes] … capable of being directed by the operator.
† b. Liable to check or stoppage. † c. Open to challenge; cf. CONTROL v. 3. Obs.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 3. If your friendship be fervent, & your kindnesse not controulable.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. vi. 21. Things of falsitie, controulable … by criticall and collective reason.
† c. Liable to be overruled. Obs.
1647. May, Hist. Parl., II. iv. 69. Under the Great Seal, which is the king’s greatest and highest command, and not controllable, nor to be dispensed with.
