a. (sb.) [f. TERMINE v. + -ABLE. Cf. OF. terminable that comes to an end, not eternal (13th c. in Godef.).]
† 1. That may be or is to be terminated, determined, or finally decided. Obs.
1424. Acts Privy Counc., III. 149. Alle the billes that comprehende materes terminable at the commune lawe … be remitted there to be determined.
c. 1450. Cov. Myst., xxv. (1841), 246. Cayphas.… Of the lawe of Moyses I have a chef governawns, To severe ryth and wrong in me is termynable. Ibid., xxix. 291. My sovereyn Lord, heyest of excillens, In ȝou alle jewgement is termynabyle.
2. Capable of being or liable to be terminated; that may come or be brought to an end (usually, in time); limitable, finite; not lasting or perpetual.
Terminable annuity, an annuity which comes to an end after a definite term: see ANNUITY 3; terminable annuitant, one who holds a terminable annuity.
1581. Hanmer, Jesuites Banner, K iv b. Although the offence be infinite, and the satisfaction finite, or terminable.
1656. trans. Hobbes’ Elem. Philos. (1839), 99. Space or time is said to be finite in power, or terminable, when there may be assigned a number of finite spaces or times, as of paces or hours.
1820. G. G. Carey, Funds, 79. To find the cost … of a terminable annuity.
1858. W. M. Campion in Cambr. Ess., 199. Treated as a mere terminable annuitant.
1874. Motley, Barneveld, II. xv. 185. Terminable at pleasure of any one.
† B. sb. in phr. in terminables: ? in definite terms, definitely (cf. in terms, TERM sb. 14 b). Obs. rare–1.
a. 1568. ‘For Helth of Body,’ etc., 70, in Bannatyne Poems (Hunter. Cl.), 199. Woyd all drinking with lymmaris and lechouris, And this I say in terminablis, I gess, Off dyce playeris and commoun hasardouris.
Hence Terminability, Terminableness, the quality of being terminable; Terminably adv., in the way of being terminable; in quot. 1584, within definite limits of space.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr. (1886), 470. The holie spirit is [not] in us as a bodie placed in a place terminablie.
1846. Worcester, Terminableness.
1850. D. Thomas, Crisis Being, iii. 51. Hell, its existence or non-existence, its terminableness or eternity.
1858. Goldw. Smith in Oxford Ess., 279. The choice between holding the fellowship perpetually as a resident, or terminably with leave of non-residence.
1884. Q. Rev., Jan., 9. He relies … on the terminability of the office.
1887. Saintsbury, Hist. Elizab. Lit., ix. (1890), 344. An exception to the general rule of the terminableness of copyright.
