incorrigible

English

Etymology

Recorded since 1340, from Old French incorrigible (1334), or directly from Latin incorrigibilis (“not to be corrected”), from in- "not" + corrigere "to correct" + -ibilis "-able".

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ɪnˈkɒrɨdʒɨb(ə)l/
• (US) IPA: /ɪnˈkɔɹɨdʒɨb(ə)l/

Adjective

incorrigible (not comparable)

1. defective and impossible to materially correct or set aright.

   The construction flaw is incorrigible; any attempt to amend it would cause a complete collapse.

2. incurably depraved; not reformable.

   His dark soul was too incorrigible to repent, even at his execution.

3. impervious to correction by punishment or pain.

   The imp is incorrigible: his bottom is still red from his last spanking when he plans the next prank.

4. unmanageable.
   • 2006 December 7, Michael White, “Breaking up is hard to do, even at the Treasury”, the Guardian:

     Gordon Brown may have his grumpy, Granita moments, but as a strategist he is an incorrigible optimist.

5. determined, unalterable, hence impossible to improve upon.

   The laws of nature and mathematics are incorrigible.

6. (archaic) incurable.

Synonyms

• irredeemable
• irreparable

Antonyms

• corrigible

Derived terms

• incorrigibility
• incorrigibly

Related terms

• incorrect

Translations

defective and materially impossible to correct or set aright

• Dutch: onverbeterbaar (nl), onherstelbaar (nl)
• German: unverbesserbar (de)

• Russian: неисправимый (ru) (neispravimyj)
• Spanish: incorregible (es)

incurably depraved

• Dutch: onverbeterlijk (nl)

• German: unverbesserlich (de)

impervious to correction by punishment or pain

• Dutch: onverbeterlijk (nl)
• German: unverbesserlich (de)

• Spanish: incorregible (es)

unmanageable — see unmanageable

determined, unalterable

• Dutch: onverbeterbaar (nl), onveranderlijk (nl)
• German: unverbesserlich (de)

• Spanish: incorregible (es)

incurable

• Russian: безнадёжный (ru) (beznadjóžnyj)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked

• French: incorrigible

Noun

incorrigible (plural incorrigibles)

1. An incorrigibly bad individual

   The incorrigibles in the prison population are either lifers or habitual reoffenders

Translations

an incorrigibly bad individual

• Dutch: onverbeterlijke (nl) m

• French: incorrigible (fr) m and f

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French

Etymology

Recorded since 1334, from Old French incorrigible (1334), or directly from Latin incorrigibilis (“not to be corrected”), from in- "not" + corrigere "to correct" + -ibilis "-able".

Adjective

incorrigible (masculine and feminine, plural incorrigibles)

1. incorrigible

Noun

incorrigible m (plural incorrigibles)

1. An incorrigible

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Old French

Adjective

incorrigible m and f

1. unpunished
   • Pource que nous ne vouloiens mie que telz fais demourast incorrigibles […]

     Because we don't want such deeds to go unpunished

Descendants

• English: incorrigible (borrowed)
• French: incorrigible

References

• Godefroy, Frédéric, Dictionnaire de l'ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IX^e au XV^e siècle (1881)