Part 535

2. Inclined to, or adapted for, society; ready to unite with others; fond of companions; social.

Society is no comfort to one not sociable.

Shak.

What can be more uneasy to this sociable creature than the dry, pensive retirements of solitude?

South.

3. Ready to converse; inclined to talk with others; not taciturn or reserved.

4. Affording opportunites for conversation; characterized by much conversation; as, a sociable party.

5. No longer hostile; friendly. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Sociable bird, or Sociable weaver (Zoöl.), a weaver bird which builds composite nests. See Republican, n., 3. (b).

Syn. -- Social; companionable; conversible; friendly; familiar; communicative; accessible.

So"cia*ble, n. 1. A gathering of people for social purposes; an informal party or reception; as, a church sociable. [Colloq. U. S.]

2. A carriage having two double seats facing each other, and a box for the driver. Miss Edgeworth.

So"cia*ble*ness, n. The quality of being sociable.

So"cia*bly, adv. In a sociable manner.

So"cial (?), a. [L. socialis, from socius a companion; akin to sequi to follow: cf. F. social. See Sue to follow.] 1. Of or pertaining to society; relating to men living in society, or to the public as an aggregate body; as, social interest or concerns; social pleasure; social benefits; social happiness; social duties. "Social phenomena." J. S. Mill.

2. Ready or disposed to mix in friendly converse; companionable; sociable; as, a social person.

3. Consisting in union or mutual intercourse.

Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st not Social communication.

Milton.

4. (Bot.) Naturally growing in groups or masses; -- said of many individual plants of the same species.

5. (Zoöl.) (a) Living in communities consisting of males, females, and neuters, as do ants and most bees. (b) Forming compound groups or colonies by budding from basal processes or stolons; as, the social ascidians.

Social science, the science of all that relates to the social condition, the relations and institutions which are involved in man's existence and his well-being as a member of an organized community; sociology. It concerns itself with questions of the public health, education, labor, punishment of crime, reformation of criminals, and the like. -- Social whale (Zoöl.), the blackfish. -- The social evil, prostitution.

Syn. -- Sociable; companionable; conversible; friendly; familiar; communicative; convival; festive.

So"cial*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. socialisme.] A theory or system of social reform which contemplates a complete reconstruction of society, with a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor. In popular usage, the term is often employed to indicate any lawless, revolutionary social scheme. See Communism, Fourierism, Saint- Simonianism, forms of socialism.

Encyc. Brit.

We certainly want a true history of socialism, meaning by that a history of every systematic attempt to provide a new social existence for the mass of the workers.

F. Harrison.

So"cial*ist, n. [Cf. F. socialiste.] One who advocates or practices the doctrines of socialism.