[f. TOUCH v. + -ABLE.] Capable of being touched.
1. Affecting the sense of touch; tangible.
c. 1400. Wyclif’s Bible, Heb. xii. 18. Ȝe han not come to the tretable fyer, or able for to touche [v.r. or toucheable].
1572. J. Jones, Bathes of Bath, II. 18. The truest touchestone, of all properties, trying both toucheable and tasteable qualities.
1656. W. D., trans. Comenius’ Gate Lat. Unl., § 469. 135. To the end that things touchable may in lying down gently affect us.
1829. Jas. Mill, Hum. Mind (1869), I. 13. In that case, we should have no idea of objects as seeable, as hearable, as touchable, or tasteable.
b. Fit to be touched or tasted. nonce-use.
1751. Smollett, Per. Pic., lxxxvii. Direct her to be cleaned and cloathed in a decent manner, with all expedition, so that she should be touchable upon his arrival.
1881. Black, Beautiful Wretch, etc. III. 177. The butter was not touchable.
2. Capable of being affected in mind or feeling.
1822. Examiner, 154/2. Every mind touchable by musical sounds.
1890. Church Union (N.Y.), May. Such of our readers as are touchable by the appeal of this writer.
Hence Touchableness.
1620. T. Granger, Div. Logike, 66. Also visiblenesse, touchablenesse, which are inseparable both in state of mortalitie, and in the state of glory.
1674. Blount, Glossogr., Tangibility, touchableness.
