a. (erron. -ible.) [a. F. conversable (16th c. in Littré), ad. med.L. conversābilis to be conversed with, f. conversārī to CONVERSE. In 17th c. stressed co·nversable.]
1. That may be conversed with. † a. That may be frequented, associated with, etc.: see CONVERSE v. 1–3. † b. Open to intercourse, sociable (obs.). c. With whom one can converse easily and agreeably; easy and pleasant in conversation. d. Able or disposed to converse, fond of talking.
1598. Florio, Praticabile, conuersable, that may be frequented or practised.
1645. Evelyn, Diary, 21 May. The ladys here are very conversable, and the religious women not at all reserv’d.
1673. S. C., Art of Complaisance, xii. 134. The Conversable Fop, is such a one who can indifferently discourse of what he has heard or seen, but if he venture to wade farther into any discourse, ’tis always found very shallow.
a. 1689. Mrs. Behn, Novels (1871), II. 143. That conversable thing I hate … That prides himself upon his prate.
1713. Guardian, No. 137. An empty man of a great family is a creature that is scarce conversible.
1757. Wesley, Wks. (1872), IX. 324. The mild, courteous, conversable Heathens who border on Georgia and Carolina.
1847. [M. W. Savage], Bachelor of Albany (1848), 7228. Mrs. Lilly was so conversable a woman, that she was in the habit of talking to herself when she had no one else to talk to.
1867. Carlyle, Remin. (1881), II. 143. He was cheerful, musical, politely conversible.
2. Of, pertaining or proper to social intercourse, or converse.
a. 1631. Donne, in Select. (1840), 37. Which are names of … sociable relations, conuersable notions.
1672–3. Marvell, Reh. Transp., II. 269. The three Homileticall conversable Virtues, Veritas, Comitas and Urbanitas.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 264, ¶ 5. A Sacrifice of more than the Four hundred thousandth Part of his Conversable Life.
1815. Jane Austen, Emma, I. xii. 84. The evening was quiet and conversable.
1838. Lytton, Alice, 138. Cleveland, having won 14 points, was in a very gay, conversable humour.
