All 4 Uses of
practicable
in
Great Expectations
- We changed, and I had not made up my mind, and still reflected for my comfort that it would be quite practicable to get down and walk back, when we changed again.†
p. 169.6 *practicable = able to be done; or useful
- So, when I had pledged myself to comfort and abet Herbert in the affair of his heart by all practicable and impracticable means, and when Herbert had told me that his affianced already knew me by reputation and that I should be presented to her, and when we had warmly shaken hands upon our mutual confidence, we blew out our candles, made up our fire, locked our door, and issued forth in quest of Mr. Wopsle and Denmark.†
p. 266.9
- So, when I had pledged myself to comfort and abet Herbert in the affair of his heart by all practicable and impracticable means, and when Herbert had told me that his affianced already knew me by reputation and that I should be presented to her, and when we had warmly shaken hands upon our mutual confidence, we blew out our candles, made up our fire, locked our door, and issued forth in quest of Mr. Wopsle and Denmark.†
p. 266.9impracticable = not able to be done; or not usefulstandard prefix: The prefix "im-" in impracticable means not and reverses the meaning of practicable. This prefix is sometimes used before words beginning with "M" or "P" as seen in words like immoral, immature, and impossible.
- Saying which he went out in disdain; and the landlord, having no one to reply upon, found it impracticable to pursue the subject.†
p. 470.1
Definition:
capable of being done with means at hand and circumstances as they are
or more rarely:
usable for a specific purpose
or more rarely:
usable for a specific purpose