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indelible

 - 3 dictionary results

in⋅del⋅i⋅ble

[in-del-uh-buhl]
–adjective
1. making marks that cannot be erased, removed, or the like: indelible ink.
2. that cannot be eliminated, forgotten, changed, or the like: the indelible memories of war; the indelible influence of a great teacher.

Origin:
1520–30; < ML indēlibilis; r. indeleble < L indēlēbilis indestructible. See in- 3 , dele, -ble


in⋅del⋅i⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, in⋅del⋅i⋅ble⋅ness, noun
in⋅del⋅i⋅bly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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in·del·i·ble   (ĭn-děl'ə-bəl)   
adj.  
  1. Impossible to remove, erase, or wash away; permanent: indelible ink.

  2. Making a mark not easily erased or washed away: an indelible pen for labeling clothing.

  3. Unable to be forgotten; memorable: an indelible memory.


[Alteration of earlier indeleble, from Latin indēlēbilis : in-, not; see in-1 + dēlēbilis, capable of being effaced (from dēlēre, to wipe out).]
in·del'i·bil'i·ty, in·del'i·ble·ness n., in·del'i·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

indelible 
1529, from L. indelebilis "indelible, imperishable," from in- "not" + delebilis "able to be destroyed," from delere "destroy, blot out" (see delete).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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