Vol"u*ble (?), a. [L. volubilis, fr.
volvere, volutum, to roll, to turn round; akin to Gr. &?; to
infold, to inwrap, &?; to roll, G. welle a wave: cf. F.
voluble. Cf. F. Well of water, Convolvulus,
Devolve, Involve, Revolt, Vault an arch,
Volume, Volute.]
1. Easily rolling or turning; easily set in motion;
apt to roll; rotating; as, voluble particles of matter.
2. Moving with ease and smoothness in uttering
words; of rapid speech; nimble in speaking; glib; as, a flippant,
voluble, tongue.
[Cassio,] a knave very voluble.
Shak.
&fist; Voluble was used formerly to indicate readiness of speech
merely, without any derogatory suggestion. "A grave and voluble
eloquence." Bp. Hacket.
3. Changeable; unstable; fickle. [Obs.]
4. (Bot.) Having the power or habit of
turning or twining; as, the voluble stem of hop plants.
Voluble stem (Bot.), a stem that climbs by
winding, or twining, round another body.
-- Vol"u*ble*ness, n. -- Vol"u*bly,
adv.
Vol"u*ble (?), a. [L. volubilis, fr.
volvere, volutum, to roll, to turn round; akin to Gr. &?; to
infold, to inwrap, &?; to roll, G. welle a wave: cf. F.
voluble. Cf. F. Well of water, Convolvulus,
Devolve, Involve, Revolt, Vault an arch,
Volume, Volute.]
1. Easily rolling or turning; easily set in motion;
apt to roll; rotating; as, voluble particles of matter.
2. Moving with ease and smoothness in uttering
words; of rapid speech; nimble in speaking; glib; as, a flippant,
voluble, tongue.
[Cassio,] a knave very voluble.
Shak.
&fist; Voluble was used formerly to indicate readiness of speech
merely, without any derogatory suggestion. "A grave and voluble
eloquence." Bp. Hacket.
3. Changeable; unstable; fickle. [Obs.]
4. (Bot.) Having the power or habit of
turning or twining; as, the voluble stem of hop plants.
Voluble stem (Bot.), a stem that climbs by
winding, or twining, round another body.
-- Vol"u*ble*ness, n. -- Vol"u*bly,
adv.
