a. Forms: 5 faysyble, fesable, 6 fays-, feac-(7 feice-)able, 6–7 faisable, fesible, 7 fac-, fæs-, fa(i)s-, fe(a)cible, feizable, -ible, foisible, 7–8 feas(e)-, feazable, -ible, 7– feasible. [a. OF. faisable, -ible, f. fais- impf. stem of faire (:—L. facĕre) to do: see -BLE.]
1. Of a design, project, etc.: Capable of being done, accomplished or carried out; possible, practicable.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon., ix. Such an enterprise is the more ffeseable, when such a rebell hath more riches than his souerayne lorde.
1587. Raleigh, Lett. to Ld. Burghley, in N. & Q. (1864), V. 207. The matter and service will be very fesible.
1647. Ward, The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America (1843), 63. To an infinite power all things are equally faisable.
a. 1687. Petty, Pol. Arith. (1690), 114. It is … a very feasible matter for [England] … to gain the Universal Trade of the whole Commercial World.
1787. Mad. D’Arblay, Diary, Dec. This seemed a most feasible way of producing some variety in our intercourse.
1822. Hazlitt, Table-t., Ser. II. iv. (1869), 89. The mind thus runs back to what was so possible and feasible at one time.
1875. J. H. Bennet, Winter Medit., I. vii. 200. We are so ready, likewise, as a nation, to go to any feasible expense to obtain what we want, that we inevitably double local prices wherever we settle in any number, and that all the world over.
absol. 1874. Morley, Compromise (1886), 111. It is the natural product of the political spirit, which is incessantly thinking of present consequences and the immediately feasible.
2. Of things in general, rarely of persons: Capable of being dealt with successfully in any way, either in a material or immaterial sense.
Cf. Sc. ‘Feasible, neat, tidy. Roxb.’ (Jam.)
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. xii. 122. Paris … not being fesible, he retires into Britaine to refresh his Armie.
1614. Bp. Mountagu, Gagg, To Rdr. 3. [I] am like enough to draw you my Parishioners with me, at least to make you more feasable, then otherwise you would be. Ibid. (1624), Let., 22 Nov., in Bp. Cosin’s Corresp. (1869), I. 27. Yet is it [the living] feisable for a good exchaunge.
1649. Blithe, Eng. Improv. Impr. (1652), 48. I know all Lands are not so Fecible as others are, nor some cannot possibly be brought to that perfection as others may.
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., Corn-Setting Engine, a very easy and most feasible Instrument.
1839. James, Louis XIV., II. 87. The whole place was so feasible.
1856. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., II. 307. Oh, I should so like a Scotchwoman, if I could get any feasible Scotchwoman.
1866. MacGregor, 1000 Miles in Rob Roy Canoe, 5. The difficulty was to find … what rivers were at once feasible to paddle on and pretty to see.
3. Of a proposition, theory, story, etc.: Likely, probable.
Hardly a justifiable sense etymologically, and (probably for that reason) recognized by no Dict., though supported by considerable literary authority.
1656. Hobbes, Six Lessons, Wks. 1845, VII. 323. A problem in all ancient writers signifies no more but a proposition uttered, to the end to have it, by them to whom it is uttered, examined whether it be true or not true, faisable or not faisable.
1726. Adv. Capt. R. Boyle, 57. Now Mirza kept the Key of the Gate, so that my Story was feazable enough.
1767. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual., xvii. ‘As you say, James,’ cried Mr. Fenton, ‘this account seems pretty feasible.’
1833. Lyell, Princ. Geol., III. 105. The only feasible theory, indeed, that has yet been proposed, respecting the causes of the permanent rise of the bed of the sea, is that which refers the phenomenon to the generation of subterranean lava.
1856. Dove, Logic Chr. Faith, V. i. § 2. 277. There might be some feasible doubts as to whether it had or had not an objective necessity, entirely independent of all other being.
1865. Livingstone, Zambesi, v. 129. It seems feasible that a legitimate and thriving trade might, in a short time, take the place of the present unlawful traffic.
† 4. As sb. in pl. Things feasible. Obs.
1661. Glanvill, Scepsis Scientifica, xiv. 83. We conclude many things Impossibilities, which yet are easie Feasables.
Hence Feasibly adv., in a feasible manner; Feasibleness, the quality or fact of being feasible, feasibility.
1649. Blithe, Eng. Improv. Impr. (1652), 86. Improve it by Floating, which may very feazibly be done according to the direction of the fourth, fifth, and sixth Chapter.
1722. Collier, Ess. (1725), IV. 331. They have made the Project look feasibly, and contriv’d Ways and Means to prevent Discovery.
1633. T. James, Voy., 107. The faiseablenesse of the Action intended; which was to finde a passage into the South Sea.
1736. Carte, Ormonde, II. 177. He enquired next into the feasableness of the offers, which had been made of seizing Glocester.
1860. J. G. Holland, Miss Gilbert, i. He offered the exhibition as a demonstration of the feasibleness of infant instruction.
