ineffable

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Related terms 1.3.3 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

First attested in 1450. From Middle French ineffable from Latin ineffābilis < in- (“‘not’”) + effābilis (“‘utterable’”) < effor (“‘utter’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ɪˈnɛf.ə.bəl/, SAMPA: /I"nEf.@.b@l/
• (US) IPA: /ˌɪnˈɛf.ə.bəl/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Adjective

ineffable (not comparable)

1. Beyond expression in words; unspeakable.
   • Gay Watson, Stephen Batchelor, Guy Claxton, The Psychology of Awakening: Buddhism, science, and our day-to-day lives (2000) p. 100:

     As Alan Watts (1961) wrote, it involves trying to speak the unspeakable, scrute the inscrutable and eff the ineffable.

2. Forbidden to be uttered; taboo.

[edit] Synonyms

• (beyond expression in words): indescribable, inexpressible, unspeakable
• (forbidden to be uttered): taboo, unspeakable, unutterable
• See also Wikisaurus:indescribable

[edit] Related terms

• ineffability
• ineffableness
• ineffably
• counterparts in calculating:
  • innumerable
  • innumerous
  • unnumerable
  • incalculable

[edit] Translations