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Webster 1913 Edition

Voluble

Vol′u-ble

,
Adj.
[L.
volubilis
, fr.
volvere
,
volutum
, to roll, to turn round; akin to Gr. [GREEK] to infold, to inwrap, [GREEK] 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
.
Shakespeare
☞ 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
,
Noun.
–
Vol′u-bly
,
adv.

Webster 1828 Edition

Voluble

VOL'UBLE

,
Adj.
[L. volubilis.]
1.
Formed so as to roll with ease, or to be easily set in motion; apt to roll; as voluble particles of matter.
2.
Rolling; having quick motion.
This less voluble earth.
3.
Nimble; active; moving with ease and smoothness in uttering words; fluent; as a flippant, voluble tongue.
4.
Fluent; flowing with ease and smoothness; as a voluble speech.
5.
Having fluency of speech.
Cassio, a knave very voluble.

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