pervious

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   able to be penetrated or passed through by water, air, or another substance

   The pervious paving allowed rainwater to drain into the soil.

2. 2
   adj

   literary: open or susceptible to an influence, feeling, or idea

   His stern manner remained pervious to an occasional appeal for mercy.

3. 3
   adj

   archaic: capable of being seen through or understood

   The scholar made the dense argument pervious to ordinary readers.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Pervious entered English in the early 17th century from Latin pervius “having a passage through.” The Latin word combines per- “through” with via “way.”

Borrowed from Latin pervius ('having a way through; passable'), from per- ('through') + via ('way, road'), with English -ous. The physical idea of admitting passage extended figuratively to minds or feelings that admit influence and to language that can be understood.

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