different between penetrable vs pervious

English

Etymology

From Middle English penetrable, penytrable, from Old French penetrable, from Medieval Latin penetr?bilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p?n?t??b?l/, /?p?nt??b?l/

Adjective

penetrable (comparative more penetrable, superlative most penetrable)

1. Capable of being penetrated, entered, or pierced. Also figuratively.
   • 1867: George Rawlinson, The Five Great Monarchies of the Ancient Eastern World

     On the east the high mountain-chain of Zagros, penetrable only in one or two places, forms a barrier of the most marked character, and is beyond a doubt the natural limit for which we are looking.

   • 1900: Arthur M. Mann, The Boer in Peace and War

     A Boer may know you, but it will take you some time to know him, and when a certain stage in your acquaintance is reached, you may begin to wonder whether his real nature is penetrable at all.

   • 1996: Peter Carruthers & Peter K. Smith, Theories of Theories of Mind

     A capacity is cognitively penetrable in this sense if that capacity is affected by the subject's knowledge or ignorance of the domain.

Antonyms

• impenetrable

Related terms

• penetrableness
• penetrably

Translations

References

• penetrable in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• repentable

English

Etymology

Latin pervius.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?p??.vi.?s/
• Rhymes: -??(r)vi?s

Adjective

pervious (comparative more pervious, superlative most pervious)

1. Admitting passage; capable of being penetrated by another body or substance; permeable.
2. Accepting of new ideas.
3. Capable of being penetrated, or seen through, by physical or mental vision.
   • 1660, Jeremy Taylor, The Worthy Communicant; or a Discourse of the Nature, Effects, and Blessings consequent to the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper

     God, whose secrets are pervious to no eye.

4. (obsolete) Capable of penetrating or pervading.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Prior to this entry?)

5. (zoology) open; perforate, as applied to the nostrils of birds

Antonyms

• impervious

Translations

See also

• permeable
• porous

Anagrams

• previous, viperous