volubility

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He replied with volubility, and helped them down on to the ice.

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Definitions (5)

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  1. Easy, swift, rolling motion; the property of moving in an easy, rolling manner. Touching such Creatures as we termed gliding, … Some move more slowly, but others with a certain Volubility and flexible Agitation of the Body. Gwillim, Heraldry, xviii.
  2. The state or character of being voluble in speech; excessive fluency or readiness in speaking; unchecked flow of talk. A lacquey that runs on errands for him, and can whisper a light message to a loose wench with some round volubility. B. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, i. 1. He [the emperor] first attacked Cardinal Fesch, and, singularly enough, launched forth with uncommon volubility into a discussion on ecclesiastical principles and usages, without possessing the slightest notion, either historical or theological, of the subject. Memoirs of Talleyrand, in The Century, XLI 701.
  3. A rolling or revolving; aptness to roll; revolution; hence, mutability. Then celestial spheres should forget their wonted motions, and by irregular volubility turn themselves any way, as it might happen. Hooker. Volubility of human affairs. Sir R. L'Estrange.

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Examples (50)

  • March Marston and the artist sauntered about together, and conversed with animated fluency and wandering volubility--as young minds are wont to do--on things past, present, and to come; things terrestrial and celestial. —  The Wild Man of the West A Tale of the Rocky Mountains
  • "I said nothing, dear Lydia--I've nothing to say, I find Lydia broke into a light, mocking laugh--the doctor's volubility was an old joke--and began to speak, when a woman's voice called, "Oh, Marius, here's Mr why, Lydia, how did you get in without my seeing you She entered the room as she spoke--a middle-aged woman, with large blue eyes and graying fair hair, who evidently did her duty by the prevailing styles in dress with a comfortable moderation of effort. —  The Squirrel-Cage
  • Osterman bewildered him with his volubility, the lightning rapidity with which he leaped from one subject to another, garrulous, witty, flamboyant, terrifying the old man with pictures of the swift approach of ruin, the imminence of danger Annixter, who led the argument against him--loving argument though he did--appeared to poor advantage, unable to present his side effectively. —  The Octopus : A story of California
  • All she drew from this confused volubility was the fact that Major Harper had somehow lost money, for which she was very sorry. —  Agatha's Husband A Novel
  • He spoke with extreme volubility, and assumed the commanding air of a man of six-feet-four, though only a boy of four-feet-six. —  My Doggie and I
 

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Etymologies (1)

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  1. from French volubilité, from Latin volubilita(t-)s, a rapid whirling motion, fluency (of speech), from volubilis, whirling, voluble: see voluble.
 

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