a. and sb. See also ESTEEMABLE. [a. Fr. estimable, ad. L. æstimābilis, f. æstimāre: see ESTEEM, ESTIMATE, vbs.]
A. adj.
† 1. Capable of being estimated, valued, or appraised. Obs.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., vi. (1885), 122. The kepynge off the see I reken not amonge the ordinarie charges … bi cause it is not estimable [ed. 1714 estemable] Ibid., xvii. (1885), 151. It is not lyghtly estymable [ed. 1714 estemable], what myght þe kynge may haue off is officers.
1638. Sanderson, Serm., vii. (1673), 99. These precious Souls … not estimable with any other thing than with the precious blood of God.
a. 1805. Paley (cited by Webster 1828).
† 2. Valuable, worth a great price; of worth. Obs.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., I. iii. 167. A pound of mans flesh … Is not so estimable, profitable neither As flesh of Muttons, Beefes, or Goates.
1791. Boswell, Johnson, I. Advt., His Contributions to my Collection are highly estimable.
1796. C. Marshall, Garden., xix. (1813), 376. The colchicums are pretty plants for the end of the flowery season, (October) which makes them estimable objects near the house.
1803. Jane Porter, Thaddeus, xi. (1831), 97. All that rendered existence estimable.
3. Of persons and their attributes: Worthy of esteem or regard.
a. 1699. Temple (J.). A lady said of her two companions, that one was more amiable, the other more estimable.
1764. Hurd, Dial. Uses of For. Trav., 102 (R.). The more estimable, nay the most accomplished characters, that have been formed at home.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, iv. Wks. IX. 67. A Tarter believes, when he has killed a man, that all his estimable qualities pass with his clothes and arms to the murderer.
1831. Sir J. Sinclair, Corr., II. 346. I do not recollect having met with a more estimable character than Count Itzenplitz of Prussia.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xxiv. 170. So determined a climber and so estimable a man.
† 4. Of things: Worthy of consideration; of considerable importance. Obs.
1570–6. Lambarde, Peramb. Kent (1826), 131. The Towne was long since somewhat estimable.
1741. C. Middleton, Cicero, II. XI. 525. These letters still more estimable.
† B. sb. pl. Things estimable. Obs. rare–1. Cf. valuables.
a. 1682. Sir T. Browne, Tracts (1684), 50. The Queen of Sheba … brought some Plants of the Balsam Tree, as one of the peculiar estimables of her Country.
