a. (and sb.) [ad. med.L. consīderābil-is worthy to be considered, f. consīderā-re: see -BLE. Cf. mod.F. considérable in Cotgr., It. considerabile (Florio, 1598).]
† 1. That may be considered; capable of being considered or viewed. Obs. rare.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., II. i. 134. A treuthe considerable, or speculable, or biholdable oonli.
1652. J. Audley, Eng. Commw., 1. Man is considerable in a threefold capacity; of nature, of nation, and of religion.
1668. Howe, Bless. Righteous (1825), 25. God was considerable in relation to man, both in his innocency and apostasy.
† 2. That should be considered; that calls for consideration; proper to be considered, taken into account, or noted; notable. Obs.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, II. (Arb.), 111. [The sphere] hath three principall partes in his nature and vse much considerable.
a. 1619. Daniel, Coll. Hist. Eng. (1621), 3. Moreover it is considerable how it made that transmigration, whether by sea or land?
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, I. (1723), 24. And, which is very considerable, they are most exactly of the same specifick Gravity.
1707. Curios. in Husb. & Gard., 160. What is yet more considerable; no ill Weather can hurt them.
3. Worthy of consideration or regard; important, of consequence. In later use passing into 5.
a. 1614. Donne, Βιαθανατος (1644), 87. Neither was it much obligatory, or considerable, what it had decreed.
1674. Ray, Collect. Words, To Rdr. 8. They may … give them occasion of making many considerable remarks.
1702. Eng. Theophrast., 117. Difficult as it is to get a considerable place at Court.
1716. Cibber, Love makes Man, I. I have some considerable questions to ask you.
1796. Pegge, Anonym. (1809), 469. The invention of the most considerable methods of cure and medicine.
1865. Pall Mall G., 12 May. This is the most considerable work that he has executed.
1872. Yeats, Growth Comm., 214. The town is still a very considerable place.
4. Of persons: Worthy of consideration or regard, important; of consequence or distinction; highly regarded or esteemed.
1641. Milton, Animadv. (1851), 196. Numbers of sober, and considerable men.
1742. H. Walpole, Corr. (ed. 3), I. xxix. 125. Many considerable people, particularly the Dukes of Montague and Richmond.
1790. Beatson, Nav. & Mil. Mem., I. 46. In Parliament, where Mr. Vernon had rendered himself very considerable, by loudly attacking the conduct of the Minister.
1818. Hallam, Mid. Ages (1841), I. iii. 362. Some of the most considerable citizens were banished.
1828. W. Field, Mem. Dr. Parr, I. 373. The daughter of a considerable potter in that neighbourhood.
1875. Bryce, Holy Rom. Emp. (ed. 5), 405. The greatness of the Prussian monarchy begins with Frederick II, certainly the most considerable man who has succeeded to a throne since Charles V.
5. Worthy of consideration by reason of magnitude; somewhat, rather, or pretty large in amount, extent, duration, etc.; a good deal of (any thing immaterial, as labor, pains, care, time). (The usual current sense.)
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxix. 172. A very considerable part of the people.
1659. B. Harris, Parival’s Iron Age, 50. That considerable passage, called the streights of Gibraltar.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 102, ¶ 6. Heard at a considerable distance.
1747. Wesley, Prim. Physic (1762), p. xxiv. I have omitted a considerable number.
1792. Anecd. W. Pitt, I. v. 118. His share … was not to be so considerable as he had expected.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. iv. 22. A considerable sum of money.
a. 1839. Praed, Poems (1864), I. 212. And gave his friends considerable trouble.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, 13. There was a considerable sea on.
6. U. S. colloq. Used of things material: A large quantity of, as ‘considerable liquor’; also absol. much, a good deal.
1876. J. Pickering, Voc. Words U.S., ‘He is considerable of a surveyor.’ ‘Considerable of it may be found in the country.’
1839. Marryat, Diary Amer., Ser. I. II. 225. I intend to write considerable.
1847. J. M. Mackie, Life Leibnitz, 123. Leibnitz … did considerable towards diffusing an interest in these subjects.
1889. Science, XIV. 82/2. During the last two years considerable has been written.
1890. Daily Times (Troy, N. Y.), 15 Feb., 3/3. The … speculators are purchasing considerable lumber at Rutland, to use in erecting buildings.
7. as adv. = CONSIDERABLY. Obs. or dial.
1657–83. Evelyn, Hist. Relig. (1850), I. 410. The Creeds … considerable differ.
1775. trans. Scarron’s Comic Rom., II. 130. I acknowledged myself considerable his debtor.
1799. N. Drake, in Beddoes, Contrib. Phys. & Med. Knowledge, 489. Blood taken from his arm, which, on cooling, proved considerable sizy.
1843. Haliburton, Sam Slick in Eng. A wet day is considerable tiresome.
¶ The compar. considerabler, and esp. the superl. considerablest, were common in 17th c.; they are now unusual.
1667. Boyle, Orig. Formes & Qual. In much considerabler heats then That needs … be expos’d to.
1693. W. Freke, Sel. Ess., xxvi. 155. Secrecy is one of the considerablest Branches of Wisdom.
a. 1695. Wood, Life (1848), 199. The considerablest family in England.
1864. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., IV. 608. Considerablest of all.
† B. sb. A thing to be considered; a point, etc., worth considering. Chiefly pl.; cf. valuables, etc.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. x. 7 (D.). An exact account of all considerables therein.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 12. Statistes and Politicians, unto whom Ragione di Stato is the first considerable.
1677. Gale, Crt. Gentiles, II. IV. 26. In fruition there are four considerables 1. Love. 2. Possession … 3. Communion. 4. Delectation.
