a. [a. Fr. admirable, in OFr. amirable:—L. admīrābil-em, f. admīrā-ri: see ADMIRE and -ABLE.]
† 1. To be wondered at; wonderful, surprising, marvellous. Obs.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., I. vii. 36. He … was knowne right well To have done much more admirable deedes.
1601. Shaks., All’s Well, II. i. 26. Lord. Oh ’tis braue warres. Parr. Most admirable, I haue seene those warres.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, I. vi. (1840), 8. It may justly seem admirable how that senseless religion should gain so much ground on Christianity.
1660. Milton, Free Commw., 431. Not only strange and admirable, but lamentable to think on.
1718. J. Chamberlayne, Relig. Philos. (1730), I. vi. § 10. All the admirable curiosities observable in the Heart.
1794. Sullivan, View of Nat., II. He has in his words something θοιοντι [? θεῖόν τι], divine and admirable.
Hence, by insensible gradations.
2. Exciting gratified surprise, or wonder united with approbation, esteem or reverence. In later usage the idea of wonder disappears, and the word is a mere exaggerated or emphatic way of expressing estimable, excellent, approvable, likable, pleasing.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., II. ii. 234. You are a gentleman of excellent breeding, admirable discourse.
1604. Marlowe, Faustus, 70. Helen of Greece was the admirablest lady that ever lived.
1678. Hobbes, Decam. Phys., i. 1. What so many do so highly praise must be very admirable.
1754. Chatham, Lett. to Nephew, iv. 28. The admirable dispositions you have towards all that is right and good.
1788. V. Knox, Wint. Even., I. II. xiv. 200. The dialogue of an admirable author.
1825. McCulloch, Pol. Econ., II. § 2, 99. The admirable machinery invented by Hargreaves.
1856. Kane, Arctic Expl., I. xi. 29. Crimped seal-skin boots or moccasins, an admirable article of walking gear.
1867. Dickens, Lett. (1880), II. 288. His wife takes admirable care of him.
¶ Also used formerly as sb. and adv., and as name of a butterfly; see ADMIRAL 5.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. iii. (1641), 23/2. Sure, in the Legend of absurdest Fables I should enroll most of these admirables.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., II. iii. 19. A wonderful sweet aire, with admirable rich words to it.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 291. Made them roast a piece of venison … admirable well.
