Sable Meaning
/ˈseɪbəl/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA small carnivorous mammal of the Old World that resembles a weasel, Martes zibellina, from cold regions in Eurasia and the North Pacific islands, valued for its dark brown fur.
nounAny other marten, especially Martes americana (syn. Mustela americana).
Sentence Examples
She wore a grand and beautiful coat made of dark sable fur.
A sable is a small and dark animal that lives in the forests.
She wore a luxurious coat made of dark sable fur.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The painter preferred a ____ brush because the animal hair allowed for precise strokes.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The artist painted the night sky using a deep ____ black that absorbed all light.
Word Origin & History
Attested since 1275, from Middle English sable, from Old French sable and martre sable (“sable marten”), in reference to the animal or its fur; from Medieval Latin sabelum, from Middle Low German sabel (compare Middle Dutch sabel, Middle High German zobel, whence German Zobel); ultimately from a Slavic word (compare Russian со́боль (sóbolʹ), Polish soból, Czech sobol). Compare also Middle Persian smwl (*samōr).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
""Ye must avenge my sister's son's death;
I will sables and martins bestow.""
— 1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 171:
"Lovers dallied upon divans spread with sables."
— 1928, Virginia Woolf, Orlando: A Biography, London: The Hogarth Press, →OCLC; republished as Orlando: A Biography (eBook no. 0200331h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, July 2015:
"I ſee its Sables wove by Deſtiny."
— 1745, [Edward Young], “Night the Ninth and Last. The Consolation. Containing, among Other Things, I. A Moral Survey of the Nocturnal Heavens. II. A Night-Address to the Deity. […]”, in The Complaint: Or, Night-Thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality, London: […] [Samuel Richardson] for A[ndrew] Millar […], and R[obert] Dodsley […], published 1750, →OCLC, page 295:
"[…]a delighted shout from the children swung him toward the door again. His sister, Mrs. Gerard, stood there in carriage gown and sables, radiant with surprise. ¶ "Phil! You! Exactly like you, Philip, to come strolling in from the antipodes—dear fellow!" recovering from the fraternal embrace and holding both lapels of his coat in her gloved hands."
— 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter I, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
"When I behold the violet past prime,
And sable curls all silver'd o'er with white"
— 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 12”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The painter preferred a ____ brush because the animal hair allowed for precise strokes.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The artist painted the night sky using a deep ____ black that absorbed all light.