a.; also 6–8 amesnable, 7–8 amainable. [apparently a. AFr. amenable (not in Godef.), f. amener to bring to or before, f. à to + mener to lead:—L. mināre to threaten, hence to drive cattle with minatory shouts. Cf. Sc. ca’ = call and drive. The spelling amesnable is quite artificial, influenced by mesne, demesne, etc.]
1. Of persons: Liable to be brought before any jurisdiction; answerable, liable to answer, responsible (to law, etc., or absol.).
1596. Spenser, State of Irel., 100. Not amesnable to Law.
1662. Fuller, Worthies, II. 74. The inferiour sort of the Irish were … not Amesnable by Law.
1691. Blount, Law Dict., Amenable, others write it amainable, from the Fr. main, a hand … is applied in our Law Books to a Woman that is supposed governable by her Husband.
1769. Junius Lett., Pref. 12. The sovereign of this country is not amenable to any form of trial.
1810. Coleridge, Friend (ed. 3), II. 5. The sufficiency of the conscience to make every person a moral and amenable being.
1876. Grant, Burgh. Sch. Scotl., I. i. 6. The Abbots of Dunfermline, to whom only he was amenable.
2. Of things: Liable to the legal authority of.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 413. Personal property, which is … always amesnable to the magistrate.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. ix. 697. All offences against the act were rendered amenable to the courts of law.
3. Hence loosely. Liable (to a charge, claim, etc.).
1863. Mrs. C. Clarke, Shaks. Char., xvii. 431. He is amenable to the charge of a host of vices.
1876. E. Mellor, Priesth., vii. 312. The next witness … is amenable to the same imputation of uncandid … quotation.
1844. Dickens, Mar. Chuz. (C. D. ed.), 270. Your property … being amenable to all claims upon the company.
4. fig. Answerable at the bar of (any critical instrument); capable of being tested by: Const. to.
1845. Mill, Ess., II. 220. Historical facts are hardly yet felt to be … amenable to scientific laws.
1867. Buckle, Civiliz., III. v. 369. Amenable to the touch, but invisible to the eye.
5. Of persons and things: Disposed to answer, respond or submit (to influence); responsive, tractable; capable of being won over.
1803. Wellington, in Gen. Disp., II. 417. A high spirited people … by no means amenable to discipline.
1861. Mill, Utilitar., iv. 60. Will … is amenable to habit.
1874. Spurgeon, Treas. David, lxxxii. 1. IV. 40. Oriental judges are frequently … amenable to bribes.
1878. E. White, Life in Christ, V. xxix. 496. Perplexed but amenable spirits whom sorrow and fear … are drawing back to their Father.
