from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Voluble \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}.]
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1. Easily rolling or turning; easily set in motion; apt to
roll; rotating; as, voluble particles of matter.
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2. Moving with ease and smoothness in uttering words; of
rapid speech; nimble in speaking; glib; as, a flippant,
voluble, tongue.
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[Cassio,] a knave very voluble. --Shak.
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Note: Voluble was used formerly to indicate readiness of
speech merely, without any derogatory suggestion. "A
grave and voluble eloquence." --Bp. Hacket.
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3. Changeable; unstable; fickle. [Obs.]
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4. (Bot.) Having the power or habit of turning or twining;
as, the voluble stem of hop plants.
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{Voluble stem} (Bot.), a stem that climbs by winding, or
twining, round another body.
[1913 Webster] -- {Vol"u*ble*ness}, n. -- {Vol"u*bly},
adv.
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