a. [a. F. effable (Cotgr.), ad. L. effābilis, f. ef-fāri to utter, f. ex out + fāri to speak.] † a. Of sounds, letters, etc.: That can be pronounced (obs.). b. That can be, or may lawfully be, expressed or described in words. Now only arch. in antithesis to ineffable.
1637. Bastwick, Litany, I. 1. Paules notions … were such as could not be expressed … mine were … easily effable.
1668. Wilkins, Philos. Lang., 414. How this Universal Character may be made effable in a distinct Language.
1755. Johnson, Effable. Expressive, utterable. Dict.
1872. Longf., Div. Trag., II. ii. These effable and ineffable impressions of the mysterious world.
