a. Also 7–8 supposeable. [f. SUPPOSE v. + -ABLE. Cf. F. supposable.] Capable of being supposed; that may be thought to exist or to be true, or assumed for the sake of argument; presumable, imaginable.
1681. Whole Duty Nations, 26. The Regions not being so united in Government,… the distribution of Churches easily follows the distinction easily supposable in their civil state.
1726. Butler, Serm. Hum. Nat., iii. 47, note. Perfection, though plainly intelligible and supposeable, was never attained by any Man. Ibid. (1748), Serm., 1 Pet. iv. 8, 11. They are highly to be blamed for not making some Provision against Age and supposeable Disasters.
1781. Cowper, Lett. to Newton, 21 May. It … is hardly a supposable case, but … we will endeavour to suppose it for a moment.
1867. Bushnell, Mor. Uses Dark Th. (1869), 273. What … are the supposable ends and uses of God in the appointment of a discipline so appalling?
1882. Hamley, Traseaden Hall, III. 53. There was no supposable reason why he should … put a complexion other than the true one upon the duel.
b. Qualifying a clause anticipated by it.
1643. Symmons, Loyal Subjects Belief, 29. Laws … are the King’s … revealed, or written will, and therefore ’tis supposeable that his personall will may … be coordinate with them.
1696. Whiston, Theory Earth, II. (1722), 91. ’Tis very supposable that ’tis our Ignorance … which occasions our lax and general Interpretations.
1736. Butler, Anal., Introd. ’Tis supposeable, there may be Frost in England any given day in January next.
1849. G. M. Cooper, in Sussex Archæol. Coll. (1850), III. 22. These are sufficient [proofs] … to render it supposable that this sequestered spot is the Dene once dignified by the presence of the great Alfred.
1884. Law Times Rep., L. 647/2. And if they can, is it supposable that they may be turned out and afterwards re-enter?
† c. That may be presumed to be or to do something. Obs.
1647. Hammond, Power of Keys, iv. 76. They being supposeable to understand that unknown tongue.
1659. Gentl. Calling, iv. § 5. This … is the least that is supposeable to be required of them.
a. 1834. Lamb, Misc. Wks. (1871), 498. The amazing change which is supposable to take place.
d. That may be supposed or presumed to be (what is denoted by the noun).
1891. J. Winsor, Columbus, xii. 272. This supposable neophyte does not again appear in history.
Hence Supposably adv. (chiefly U.S.), as may be supposed; presumably.
1881. Ruskin, Love’s Meinie, I. iii. 134. This aesthetic water-hen … lived at Cheadle,… in the rectory moat,… ‘always however leaving it in the spring,’ (for Scotland, supposably?).
1883. Science, I. 94/1. The atmospheric conditions affecting two celestial objects which are supposably near enough to be influenced alike.
1893. ‘Mark Twain,’ Pudd’nhead Wilson, ii. Sitting on a wheelbarrow … at work, supposably, whereas he was in fact only … taking an hour’s rest.
