a. Obs. [ad. L. spērābilis (f. spērāre to hope) or F. espérable (Sp. esperable, Pg. esperavel, It. sperabile).] That may be hoped for; admitting of, giving room for, hope. Of debts: = SPERATE a. 1.
1565. Sir W. Cecil, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. II. 297. Wherin suerly perceaving his own cause not sperable, he doth honorably and wisely. Ibid. (1571), in D. Digges, Complete Ambass. (1655), 164. I am sorry that your health is not more sperable to be speedily recovered.
1591. Unton, Corr. (Roxb.), 187. If … you yourselfe shall find the recovery [of Rouen] sperable, then … you may afterwards use the kind of speache.
c. 1615. Jas. I., in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 170. Debts before the 30th of Elizabeth, though they be never so sperable.
