latrability
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Latin lātrābilis (“barking, able to bark, characterized by barking”) + English -ity (“forming abstract nouns”). Equivalent to latrate + -ability.
Noun[edit]
latrability (uncountable)
- (rare, obsolete, philosophy) The ability or tendency to bark.
- 1668, Franciscus Euistor the Palæopolite [pseudonym; Henry More], “The Third Dialogue”, in Divine Dialogues, Containing Sundry Disquisitions & Instructions Concerning the Attributes of God and His Providence in the World. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Joseph Downing […], published 1713, →OCLC, paragraph XXXIV, page 272:
- But now in the ſecond place, Hylobares, let us ſuppoſe that all the Planets or Earths be inhabited with rational Creatures, yet theſe rational Creatures may be as ſpecifically diſtinct as the Earths or Planets the inhabit, but agree all in Rationality; as the ſundry ſpecies of Dogs here on Earth agree in Latrability.
- 1677, John Webster, chapter I, in The Displaying of Supposed Witchcraft. […] , London: Printed by J[onas] M[oore] […] , →OCLC, pages 10–11:
- I do not thereby deny either the Being of Witches, nor other properties that they may have, for which thev may be ſo called: no more than if I deny that a Dog hath rugibility (which is only proper to a Lion) doth it follow that I deny the being of a Dog, or that he hath latrability?
- 1702, Gideon Harvey, The vanities of philosophy and physick: […] , 3rd edition, London: Printed for A. Roper […] , →OCLC, page 94:
- […] and therefore if ſome be born Dum, Deaf, or Blind, they are not to be accounted perfect Men. In like manner Latrability in a Dog, Boability in a Cow, or an Ox, Hinnibility in a Horſe, &c. are all Second Properties immediately following internal Senſation, or rather Senſibility in Beaſts, […]
Related terms[edit]
References[edit]
- “† latrability, n.”, in OED Online
, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 1902.
