a. Also 6 tastible. [In ME. a. OF. tastable having the capacity of feeling, f. taster to feel, touch; in mod. Eng. f. TASTE v. + -ABLE.]
I. † 1. Capable of feeling or perceiving by the sense of touch. Obs. rare–1.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 98. Þe wyttys þat er yn þe hondes ys in a touchable & tastable stryngh [F. li sens qi est en la main est en force touchable e tastable; L. palpatiua].
II. 2. Capable of being tasted. Also fig.
1572. J. Jones, Bathes of Bath, II. 18. The fittest instrument, the truest touchestone, of all properties, trying both toucheable and tasteable qualities.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, II. i. (Arb.), 78. Things that haue conueniencie by relation, as the visible by light…: the tastible by sauours to the rate: the tangible by his objectes in this or that regard.
1627–77. Feltham, Resolves, II. xliv. 245. Pleasures are not truly tastable, but in the solid tracts of Temperance.
1755. Miller, in Phil. Trans., XLIX. 163. This juice has no other tasteable quality but that of heating without turning sour.
1829. Jas. Mill, Hum. Mind (1869), I. 13. We should have no idea of objects as seeable, as hearable, as touchable, or tasteable.
† 3. Pleasant to the taste; savory, ‘tasty.’ Obs.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon., vii. (1642), 443. Esseni are those that live the life of Monks, eating no pleasant or tasteable meat at all.
1791. Gentl. Mag., Feb., 127/1. The fruit was tasteable.
