English

Adjective

oppugnable ‎(comparative more oppugnable, superlative most oppugnable)

1. (obsolete, rare) Disputable, contestable, refutable, capable of being oppugned.
   • 1692, J. C., “The Translator to the Reader”, in Anne Conway, The Principles of the Most Ancient and Modern Philosophy :

     Judicious Reader, THOU may'st (peradventure) no less wonder at the strangeness of the Paradox, than at the publication hereof in an English Dialect, and the rather because it is no vulgar Theme [...]: Yet, by the way, let me advise thee to suspend thy censures, (which at first view, 'tis probable, thou may'st be subject to entertain,) as supposing the Doctrine herein asserted more easily oppugnable than indeed it is) till thou hast passed a serious examination on all the particulars herein insisted upon: For Aliquando mens cogitat quæ ratio non probat.

   • 1772, Causidico-Mastix, “A complete VINDICATION of a late APOLOGETICAL LETTER from Princeton.” in Extracts from American Newspapers, Relating to New Jersey. Vol. IX 1772–1773 (= Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Vol. XXVIII), The Call Printing and Publishing Co. (1916), page 400:

     The Prince of Orators directs all Polemics to exert their Fire and Force on those Points of their Cause which are most solid and plausible, and to glide gently over, or altogether omit those which are weakest and most oppugnable.

   • 1891, “Puritanism in Power”. (review), The Academy 39 (977) Jan. 24, page 87:

     With more than Quixotic courage and boisterous energy, he not only arrays himself against every belief or institution which wears the aspect of stability or general acceptance, but he continually mistakes the phantasies of his own imagination for actual oppugnable realities.

2. (obsolete, rare) Curable, amenable to medical treatment.
   • 1782, William Black, An Historical Sketch of Medicine and Surgery, from their origin to the present time ..., page 266:

     Consult, on the other hand, the advocates for cold bathing, Floyer and Baynard, for instance, should implicit credit be given to their panegyricks, there are few diseases which are not oppugnable by immersion in cold water.

   • 1788, William Black, A Comparative View of the Mortality of the Human Species, &c., C. Dilly, page 101:

     No dangerous diseases almost whatsoever, are more successfully oppugnable under discreet medical regimen [than are the fevers hitherto described] ; and when entrusted to nature, from the days of Hippocrates to the present time, they have ever been extremely fatal.

3. (obsolete, rare) Assailable, exposed to enemy's attack.
   • 1839, Samuel Ward, Jr., “The Battle of Long-Island”. The Knickerbocker 13 (4) April, page 284:

     A redoubt and battery at Hellgate were destined to prevent the passage of the enemy's ships to and fro in the Sound. Similar works were contemplated on the North River, and the oppugnable portions of the town were reformed and strengthened.

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