immarcescible

English

Etymology

From Middle French inmarcessible (1482), later immarcescible (“that does not shrivel" or "that does not perish”), from Latin immarcescibilis (“unfading”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪmɑː(ɹ)ˈsɛsɪbəl/

Adjective

immarcescible (comparative more immarcescible, superlative most immarcescible)

1. (rare) Permanent, enduring; that does not perish.
   • 1989, Kathleen Raine, “Hieros Gamos”, in Selected Poems, page 103:

     I did not think to see them once again, / For what could bring into an old woman's dream / Canova's immarcescible marble lovers?

Antonyms

• marcescible

Derived terms

• immarcescibility
• immarcescibly

French

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ecclesiastical Latin immarcescibilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /i.maʁ.sɛ.sibl/, /i.maʁ.se.sibl/

• Audio

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• Audio (Switzerland)

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Adjective

immarcescible (plural immarcescibles)

1. (literary) immarcescible (permanent, enduring, that does not perish)

   Synonyms: impérissable, inflétrissable

See also

• imputrescible

Further reading

• “immarcescible”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.