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inarticulate

 - 4 dictionary results

in⋅ar⋅tic⋅u⋅late

  [in-ahr-tik-yuh-lit]
Use inarticulate in a Sentence
–adjective
1. lacking the ability to express oneself, esp. in clear and effective speech: an inarticulate public speaker.
2. unable to use articulate speech: inarticulate with rage.
3. not articulate; not uttered or emitted with expressive or intelligible modulations: His mouth stuffed, he could utter only inarticulate sounds.
4. not fully expressed or expressible: a voice choked with inarticulate agony.
5. Anatomy, Zoology. not jointed; having no articulation or joint.
Origin:
1595–1605; < LL inarticulātus. See in- 3 , articulate

Related forms:
in⋅ar⋅tic⋅u⋅late⋅ly, adverb
in⋅ar⋅tic⋅u⋅late⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
2. mute, dumb.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To inarticulate
in·ar·tic·u·late   (ĭn'är-tĭk'yə-lĭt)   
adj.  

  1. Uttered without the use of normal words or syllables; incomprehensible as speech or language: "a cry . . . that . . . sank down into an inarticulate whine" (Jack London).

  2. Unable to speak; speechless: inarticulate with astonishment.

  3. Unable to speak with clarity or eloquence: an inarticulate debater.

  4. Going unexpressed: inarticulate sorrow.

  5. Biology Not having joints or segments.

in'ar·tic'u·late·ly adv., in'ar·tic'u·late·ness, in'ar·tic'u·la·cy (-lə-sē) n.
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

inarticulate 
1603, "not clear or intelligible" (of speech), from L.L. inarticulatus "indistinct," from in- "not" + articulatus, pp. of articulare (see articulate).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

inarticulate in·ar·tic·u·late (ĭn'är-tĭk'yə-lĭt)
adj.

  1. Uttered without the use of normal words or syllables; incomprehensible as speech or language.

  2. Unable to speak; speechless.

  3. Unable to speak with clarity or eloquence.

  4. Not having joints or segments.

in'ar·tic'u·late·ness or in'ar·tic'u·la·cy (-lə-sē) n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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