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It's vain and it's conceited
it is the best running game
Sep 11, 2021 22:45
2 yrs ago
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English term

practicability

Non-PRO English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters explanation of the meaning of a word
"the result of the experiment of universal instruction is considered as involving within its practicability and influence the perfection of our social happiness, and the perpetuity of our dearest privileges." [from Ladies Magazine, USA 1828]


Does practicability in this context means
1. put into practice / its application
or
2. it is feasible [the usual meaning, but maybe it had other meaning in the 19th century]
Responses
5 +5 he quality of being practicable; viability
References
fwiw/hth
Change log

Sep 11, 2021 23:08: writeaway changed "Field" from "Art/Literary" to "Other" , "Field (write-in)" from "(none)" to "explanation of the meaning of a word"

Discussion

O G V Sep 12, 2021:
por si quieres traducción supongo que también vas a traducirlo, asi que por si te viene bien, se me ocurre algo así: se considera que el resultado del experimento de la instrucción universal implica –dentro de su practicabilidad [manteniendo el palabro que está en el DRAE con ese sentido] / puesta en práctica [adaptando a algo más natural, si quieres añade antes “su posible”] y su influencia– la perfección de nuestra felicidad social, y la perpetuidad de nuestros más queridos privilegios.
la cuestión es si mantener el tono rebuscado e intrincado del original o tirar hacia algo más masticable o digerible
O G V Sep 12, 2021:
por si quieres traducción supongo que también vas a traducirlo, asi que por si te viene bien, se me ocurre algo así: se considera que el resultado del experimento de la instrucción universal implica –dentro de su practicabilidad [manteniendo el palabro que está en el DRAE con ese sentido] / puesta en práctica [adaptando a algo más natural, si quieres añade antes “su posible”] y su influencia– la perfección de nuestra felicidad social, y la perpetuidad de nuestros más queridos privilegios.
la cuestión es si mantener el tono rebuscado e intrincado del original o tirar hacia algo más masticable o digerible
Mark Robertson Sep 12, 2021:
@All The text is difficult because of its non-standard and inelegant construction, which was probably also non-standard and inelegant in 1828. The sentence could be reworded as "the feasibility and effect of universal education involves" but still does not ring true, because we do not normally refer to practicability or feasibility as involving anything. We would perhaps use implementation or introduction instead of practicability. However, a more harmonious meaning can also be arrived at by altering practicability to practicabilities.
The OED lists the meaning of practicabilities as: practicable conditions or things. The corresponding reference is dated 1816.
Althea Draper Sep 12, 2021:
From a dictionary of the time (1828) 'A dictionary of the English language', Volume 1, By Samuel Johnson, John Walker · 1828 page 559
"PRACTICABILITY , ...possibility to be performed
PRACTICABLE, ...performable; feasible; capable to be practised..."

https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/A_Dictionary_of_the_E...
philgoddard Sep 12, 2021:
This is difficult to understand. Here's my attempt at a translation:
The experiment with universal education has found it to be both viable and effective. It makes society happier, and perpetuates the rights and values that we love the most.

Responses

+5
3 mins
Selected

he quality of being practicable; viability

practicability
/
the quality of being practicable; viability.

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Note added at 4 mins (2021-09-11 22:49:32 GMT)
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the

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Note added at 5 mins (2021-09-11 22:51:04 GMT)
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Meaning of practicability in English ... the quality of being able to be done or put into action

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Note added at 57 mins (2021-09-11 23:42:05 GMT)
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yes

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Note added at 1 hr (2021-09-11 23:54:06 GMT)
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feasibility

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Note added at 1 hr (2021-09-11 23:57:28 GMT)
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basically it means the feasibility of putting it into practice in the sense of implementing

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Note added at 1 hr (2021-09-11 23:58:38 GMT)
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"viability" has an economic dimension

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Note added at 1 hr (2021-09-12 00:02:04 GMT)
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"practicability" has more to do with the quality of being able to be done or put into action
Note from asker:
And does that make sense to you in this context? [within its viability and influence]?
Peer comment(s):
agree Charlotte Fleming
8 hrs
agree philgoddard
9 hrs
agree AllegroTrans
12 hrs
agree airmailrpl : fea·si·bil·i·ty /ˌfēzəˈbilədē/ Learn to pronounce noun noun: feasibility the state or degree of being easily or conveniently done.
13 hrs
agree Orkoyen (X) : also implementable
20 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.

Reference comments

1 hr
Reference:

fwiw/hth

definition of practicability by The Free Dictionary
https://www.thefreedictionary.com › practicability
adj. 1. Capable of being effected, done, or put into practice; feasible. See Synonyms at possible. 2. Usable for a specified purpose: a practicable way of entry .


Practicability Synonyms | Collins English Thesaurus
https://www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › practic...
Another word for practicability: feasibility, use, value, advantage, possibility | Collins English Thesaurus.



Definition of practicability noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
practicability noun

​the quality of being able to be done, or of being likely to be successful synonym feasibility
We were doubtful about the practicability of the plan.
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/englis...
Peer comments on this reference comment:
agree Charlotte Fleming
7 hrs
agree AllegroTrans : A dictionary is still a very useful addage
10 hrs
indeed
agree Rachel Fell : practicable adj 1 capable of being done, used or successfully carried out; feasible. practicability or practicableness noun. https://chambers.co.uk/search/?query=practicability&title=21...
11 hrs
agree Jennifer Levey : 'feasibility' (a test of whether something is 'do-able') is a better option than David's 'viability' (a test of whether something is likely to deliver a worthwhile result).
12 hrs
agree-saw no reference that indicated 'viability' is a synonym
agree Tina Vonhof (X)
14 hrs
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