a. [ad. late L. assimilābilis, f. assimilāre: see ASSIMILATE.]

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  1.  That may be appropriated as nourishment.

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1667.  Boyle, Orig. Formes & Qual. Such assimilable juices.

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1859.  Lewes, Sea-side Stud., 208. Very simple organisms find assimilable food in the element they live in.

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  2.  That may be likened or compared to.

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1847.  Todd, Cycl. Anat. & Phys., IV. 107/2. This intrinsic change seems assimilable to that effecting softening of fibrinous clots in the veins.

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1862.  H. Spencer, First Princ., I. v. § 30 (1875), 106. Agencies less assimilable to the familiar agencies of men and animals.

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  B.  as sb. That which is assimilable.

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1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 386. Meeting no assimilables wherein to react their natures.

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