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VOLTZITE.
Voltzite (vp-ltzsit). Min. [f. the name of
P. L. Vo/iZf inspector of mines ; named by Fournet,
1833.] A native oxysulphide of zinc.
183s R. D. * T. Thomson's Rec. Gen. Set. I. 274 Voltzite.
This mineral is found at Pont Gibaud, in Puyde Dome. It
Bissesses a pearly lustre ; colour rose-red, or yellow. 1852
ANA Min. 252 Voltzite. A compound of sulphuret and
oxyd of zinc. Occurs in implante^ globules of a dirty rosered
color.
Volu-bilate, «. Bot. [f. next + -ate.] = next.
1819 Rees Cycl.y Volubile^ or Volubilate Stem or Stalk, .
a name given to those of many plants, as all those the stems
or stalks of which are of a twining or winding climbing
nature.
Volubile, a, Bot. rare. [ad. L. volubilis. So
F. voiubi/e,'] = Voluble a. 4.
299
man. .with. .an insuppressable volubility of assertion. 1836
Thirlwall Greece III. 11 The sweetness of voice, and the
volubility of utterance, with which both [Pisistratus and
CimonJ expressed themselves.
b. Smooth, easy, or copious flow of verse or
poetic utterance.
1589 Nashe in Greene Menaphon Pref. (Arb.) 6 The
spacious volubilitie of a drumming decasillabon. 175X Johnson
Rambler No. 92 r 11 The verse intended to represent
the whisper of the vernal breeze, must be confessed not much
to excel in softness or volubility. 1779 — L. /*., Pom/ret
(1838) 113 In his other poems there is an easy volubility.
6. The character or state of being voluble in
speech ; great fluency of language ; readiness of
speech ; garrulousness.
1819 [see prec.]. 1838 J. Murray Econ. Veg. 48 Some
stems are volubile; or * twine' as ihe hop and honeysuckle,
convolvolus, and 'scarlet runner.' 1S49 Balfour J/rt«, Bot.
§ 66 Stems have usually considerable firmness and solidity,
but sometimes they.. twist round other plants in a spiral
manner like Woodbine, becoming volubile.
II Volu-bilis. Bot. Obs. [L.; see prec So F.
voiubilis.'\ Convolvulus.
1664 EvKLVN Kal. Hort. Mar. 63 Sow on the Hot-bed such
Plants as are late bearing Flowers or Fruit in our Climate;
as Balsamine,.. Volubilis, M>Trh, Carrobs, [etc.]. 171a tr.
Pomefs Hist. Dru^s I. 132 This Pod is the Fruit of a
Kind of Volubilis.
Volubility Cvf7li«bi-liti). Also 6-7 -itie, 7
-itye. [ad. F. volubility (i5-i6th cent.; = It.
volubilith^ Sp. -idad^ Pg. -idade)^ or ad. L, volUbiiitdSf
f. volubilis : see next and -ity.]
I. f 1. Quickness in turning from one object to
another; versatility. Obs. rare.
1579 Fenton Giticciard. \. (1509) 3 The wisedome and
reputation of the man, togither with the naturall volubilitie
of his wit. X605 Bacon Adv. Learn. 11. xviii. §5 Orators..
by the obseruing their well graced fourmes of speech., leese
the volubilitie of Application.
+ b. Ready variation of expression, Obs.~~^
1659 Harrington Vaierius ^ Publicola 18 If you speak
of Israel, Athens, Rome, Venice, or the like, they hear you
with volubility of countenance.
2. The capacity of revolving, rolling, or turning
round ; aptness to rotate about an axis or centre.
IS94 Hooker Eccl. Pol. i. iii. §2 If Celestial! Spheres
should forget their woonted Motions, and by irregular volubilitie
tume themselues any way as it might happen, xtiox
Holland Pliny I. 31 The world with continuall volubilitie
and turning about it, driveth the.. globe thereof into the
forme of around ball. 1656 Stanley Hist. Philos. viii. (1687)
432/2 He who thrust the Cylinder, gave it the beginning of
motion, but did not give it volubility. 1687 A. Lovell tr.
Bergerac's Com. Hist. 86 It began to be out of my power
any more to discern the Diversity of their several Motions
by reason of their extream Volubility. 1705 Purshall
Mech. Macrocosm 296 They lose their Fluidity, which depends
upon the Volubility of Globular Particles at liberty.
1740 Chevne Regimen 75 Blood Globules, by their Rotundity,
Volubility, and Elasticity, resist Trituration, that js,
Digestion. 1754 Diet. Arts ^ Sci. s.v, JVeedtc, In the construction
of the horizontal needle a piece of pure steel is provided,
of a length not exceeding six inches, lest its weight
impede its volubility. 1871 Browning Pr. Hohenst. 1920
Under pretence of making fast and sure The inch[of ascentj
gained by late volubility.
b. Of the eye : Readiness in moving, rarr-^,
1603 Holland PlutarcWs Mor. 1275 The cbeerefull cast &
amiable volubility of his quicke eie.
1 3. Capacity for moving in an easy or gliding
manner. Obs.
1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. 11. xxi. 89 Except men know
exactly all the conditions of the serpent ;. his volubility and
lubricity. x6io Guillim Heraldry m. xviii. 153 Such Crea.
tures. .which, .as it were slide irom place to place, some
more slowlie, but oihersome with a certaine Volubility and
flexible Agitation of the Bodie. 1653 T. Watson Art Div,
Contentm. xi. (i663) 185 The Poets painted Time with wings,
to shew the volubility and swiftness of it.
1 4. Tendency to change or turn from one condition
to another ; changeableness, mutability, inconstancy.
Obs. a. Of persons.
1603 Florio Montaigne \\. i. 195 Whosoever shall heedefuUy
survay and consider himselfe, shall finde this volubilitie
and discordance to be in himselfe. 16x3 Shirley
Tray, Persia 130 The world by taking notice of your infirmitie
will alwayes feare volubilitie in all your actions.
ax66o Content^. Hist, Irei. (Ir. Archa:ol. Soc) I. 304 All
the lawe, pbisicke, and poetrie in the world canot cure or
amende the flexibiliiie, volubilitie, incoostancie, and treacherie
of this man.
b. Of fortune or affairs.
X609 Holland Amm. MarcelL 286 The volubilitie of inconstant
fortune produccth these occurrences in the East
parts, x^o Moral State Bug. i All affairs do resemble the
great Machines of Heaven and Earth, in their motion and
volubility. 1699 T. C[ockman] tr. Tully's Offices (1706) 88
The great Volubility and Changeableness of Fortune,
II. 6. Ready flow ^speech, etc.
1589 PiHTENHAM Eng. Foesie \\. v. (Arb.) oi Which flowing
of wordet with much volubilitie smoothly proceeding
from the mouth is in some sort harmonicall. ^6s3Jer. Tav.
LOR Serm, for Year 1. ii. 15 Some men . . explicate our praying
in the Spirit, by a mere volubilty \sic\ of language.
X656 Stanley Hist. Philos. v. (1687) 228/2 Cicero being at
Athens heard him, and was much taken with the eloquence
and volubility o( his discourse. 1670 Clarendon Hist. Reb.
xvL 5 122 The General was not a Man of Eloquence or
Volubility of Speech. i7«9 Butler Serm. Wks. 1874 II 43
This unrestrained vohibiliiy and wantonness of speech is the
occasion of numberless evils. 1791 Cowprr Odyss. xviii. 32
Gods I with what volubility of speech The table hunter
prates. x8a3 Lamb Elia 11. Old MargtUe Hoy, A. .young
1596 Shaks. Tarn. Shr. \\. i. 176 Say she be mute, and will
not speake a word ; Then He commend her volubility. i6oa
Marston Ant. ^ Mel. \\. Wks. 1856 I. 23 You have the
most gracefull presence,.. amazing volubility, .. deliciuus
affabilitie. 1670 G. H. tr. Hist. Cardinals i. i. 13 It was my
fortune to hear a Franciscan Preach.., but with more
Volubility than Virtue. 1710 Steele T^ller'So. ri5 P5 His
great Volubility and inimitable Manner of Speaking. 1751
Johnson Rambler No. 157 f8 Long familiarity with my
subject enabled me to discourse with ease and volubility.
1781 R. King Mod. Lond. Spy 118 The following account,
which she delivered with great volubility. 1826 F. Reynolds
Life 9f Times IL 11 He took the lead in conversation,
and his natural volubility, increased by sudden joy,
carried all before it. 1855 Macaulav Hist. Eng. xi. III. 25
Before he had been a member three weeks, his volubility,
his asperity, and his pertinacity had made him conspicuous.
1875 ft. James Mme. de Mauves i. Her volubility was less
siiggeslive than the latter's silence.
7. Extreme readiness 0/ the tongue in respect of
speech or discourse.
x6ia W. Martyn Youths Instr. 99 The volubilitie of a
smooth tongue is nothing profitable. 1650 R. Stapvlton
Strada's Low C. Wars iii. 67 A Counsellour of great subtilty
and volubility of tongue. 1699 Garth Dispens. in. 36
Both had the Volubility of Tongue, In Meaning faint, but
in Opinion strong. 17XX Steele Sped. No. 252 P3 Vou
have mentioned only the Volubility of their Tongue. X7SS
Smollett Quix. (1803) 11.6 All this preamble was uttered.
with such volubility of tongue,, .that they admired her good
sense as much as her beauty.
b. Similarly of the throat, voice, etc.
1740 C18BER Apol. (1756) I. 282 In volubility of throat the
former [singer] had much the superiority. X769 Goldsm.
Hist. Rome (1786) II. 225 Nero.. used all those methods
which singers practice either to mend the voice, or improve
its volubility. XS84 Encycl. Brit. XVIL 9S/2 These [barmonies
on horns and trumpets] they executed with volubility
akin to that displayed on fingered instruments.
t Volubilous, a, Obs."^ [f. L. volUbil-is : see
next] Apt to roll or turn.
X658 Rowland tr. Moufets Theat. Ins. 1059 It hath a
broad round volubilous IJody.
Voluble (V(7li77b'i), a. Also 7 volubiL [a.
older F, voluble ( = Sp. voluble^ Pg. voluvel^ It.
volubile) or ad. L. volubilisj f, volH-j volvire to
turn : see -ble.
_In some instances the use of the word echoes Horace £/. i,
ti. 43 (Amnis) in omne volubilis aevum.]
I. 1. Liable to change ; inconstant, variable,
mutable. Now rare,
X57S Fewton G