a. [f. FORM v.1 + -ABLE.]
1. That may be formed. In early use: Workable, plastic.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. xxiv. (1495), 617. The cypresse tree is fourmable.
1572. Bossewell, Armorie, II. 95 b. The Cypres next vnto ye Cedar tree is most formable, and necessary to the building of Temples, to wres, and for other great & pompous Edifices.
1600. Dekker, Old Fortunatus, in Dodsley, O. Pl. (1816), III. 166. Agri. God bless me from suffering you to love me, if you be not so formable.
1629. T. Adams, Wks., 696. The Papists are not behinde them in their foule interpretations, not shaming to call that sacred Writ a nose of waxe, formable to any construction.
1674. Grew, The Anatomy of Plants, IV. 1. iii. (1682), 225. All Principles are immutable; as we have above proved; and therefore not generable, formable, or transformable.
1884. J. Fiske, Evolutionist, xii. 312. A good many of his nervous connections are not yet formed, they are only formable.
† 2. Exhibiting agreement with prescribed forms; formal, proper, shapely. Obs.
1479. J. Paston, in Paston Lett., No. 841, III. 256. Lomnore and I mett at Norwyche and drew ought a formable bylle ought of your, and send it ayen to th’Exchetore.
1483. Cath. Angl., 138/1. Formabylle; ubi ordinate.
1586. W. Webbe, Eng. Poetrie (Arb.), 90. Thys profit is gott by trauelling, that whatsoeuer he wryteth he may so expresse and order it, that hys narration may be formable.
1622. F. Markham, Bk. War, II. v. 58. He was one of the first which gaue light to our late Postures, and formable motions.
Hence Formability, capability of formation.
1825. Coleridge, Aids Refl., App. C. (1858), I. 394. If we assume the time as excluded, the line vanishes, and we leave space dimensionless, an indistinguishable ALL, and therefore the representative of absolute weakness and formlessness, but, for that very reason, of infinite capacity and formability.
