Category:Voluble

Vol"u*ble, a. Etym: [l. volubilis, fr. volvere, volutum, to roll, to Turn round; akin to gr. 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.

Note: 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.)

Defn: 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.