partible

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin partibilis, from Latin partiō (“to share, divide”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɑːtɪbl̩/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpɑɹtɪbl̩/

Adjective

partible (not comparable)

1. Divisible, able to be divided or partitioned. [from 14th c.]
   • 1683, Richard Baxter, Dying Thoughts:

     If souls be not unible, nor partible substances, there is no place for this doubt: if they be, they will be still what they are, notwithstanding any such union with a common soul.

2. Pertaining to property that can be divided between heirs on inheritance, or to an inheritance system based on such division. [from 16th c.]
   • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 562:

     Following the introduction of partible inheritance in 1793, peasants reacted by using systematic birth control for the first time so as to restrict the number of heirs among whom their property would have to be divided – causing a sharp and enduring drop in France's birth-rate.

See also

• gavelkind

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /paʁ.tibl/

Adjective

partible (plural partibles)

1. partible
2. (botany, obsolete) Susceptible of spontaneous divisions