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ignobility

 - 3 dictionary results

ig⋅no⋅ble

  [ig-noh-buhl]
Use ignobility in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of low character, aims, etc.; mean; base: his ignoble purposes.
2. of low grade or quality; inferior.
3. not noble; of humble descent or rank.
4. Falconry. noting any hawk with short wings that chases or rakes after the quarry.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < L ignōbilis unknown, inglorious, equiv. to in- in- 3 + OL gnōbilis (L nōbilis) noble

Related forms:
ig⋅no⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, ig⋅no⋅ble⋅ness, noun
ig⋅no⋅bly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. degraded, dishonorable, ignominious, contemptible. 3. lowly, obscure, plebeian, peasant.

Antonyms:
1. honorable. 2. superior.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ignobility
ig·no·ble   (ĭg-nō'bəl)   
adj.  

  1. Not noble in quality, character, or purpose; base or mean. See Synonyms at mean2.

  2. Not of the nobility; common.


[Middle English, of low birth, from Old French, from Latin ignōbilis : i-, in-, not; see in-1 + nōbilis, gnōbilis, noble; see noble.]
ig'no·bil'i·ty (-bĭl'ĭ-tē), ig·no'ble·ness n., ig·no'bly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

ignoble 
1447, from M.Fr. ignoble, from L. ignobilis "unknown, undistinguished, not noble," from in- "not" + nobilis "noble," infl. by Old L. gnobilis "known, famous, renowned, noble."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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