indefatigable
English
Etymology
From Middle French, from Latin indēfatīgābilis (“untiring”), from in- (“not”) + dēfatīgō (“to tire out”).
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˌɪndɪˈfætɪɡəbl/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GA" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˌɪndəˈfætəɡəbəl/
Audio (AU): (file) - (sometimes proscribed) IPA(key): /ˌɪndɪfəˈtiɡəbəl/
Audio (Northern California, US): (file) - Hyphenation: in‧de‧fa‧tig‧a‧ble
Adjective
indefatigable (comparative more indefatigable, superlative most indefatigable)
- Extremely persistent and untiring.
- Synonyms: inexhaustible, relentless, tireless, unflagging, unsinkable, untiring, unwearying
- Antonym: (much less common) defatigable
- 1704, [Jonathan Swift], “Section I. The Introduction.”, in A Tale of a Tub. […], London: […] John Nutt, […], →OCLC, page 33:
- Whoever hath an Ambition to be heard in a Crowd, muſt preſs, and ſqueeze, and thruſt, and climb with indefatigable Pains, till he has exalted himſelf to a certain Degree of Altitude above them.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, “Containing Two Letters in Very Different Stiles”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume VI, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book XVIII, page 196:
- [...] But he was at the ſame Time an excellent Scholar, and moſt indefatigable in teaching the two Lads.
- 1895–1897, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “Friday Night”, in The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, published 1898, →OCLC, book I (The Coming of the Martians), pages 54–55:
- All night long the Martians were hammering and stirring, sleepless, indefatigable, at work upon the machines they were making ready, and ever and again a puff of greenish-white smoke whirled up to the starlit sky.
Derived terms
Translations
extremely persistent and untiring
|