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indispensable - 5 dictionary results

in⋅dis⋅pen⋅sa⋅ble

  [in-di-spen-suh-buhl]
Use indispensable in a Sentence
–adjective
1. absolutely necessary, essential, or requisite: an indispensable member of the staff.
2. incapable of being disregarded or neglected: an indispensable obligation.
–noun
3. a person or thing that is indispensable.
Origin:
1525–35; < ML indispēnsābilis not subject to dispensation. See in- 3 , dispensable

Related forms:
in⋅dis⋅pen⋅sa⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, in⋅dis⋅pen⋅sa⋅ble⋅ness, noun
in⋅dis⋅pen⋅sa⋅bly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. needed. See necessary.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To indispensable
in·dis·pens·a·ble   (ĭn'dĭ-spěn'sə-bəl)   
adj.  
  1. Not to be dispensed with; essential.
  2. Obligatory; unavoidable: the routine but indispensable ceremonies of state.
n.  One that is indispensable.
in'dis·pens'a·bil'i·ty, in'dis·pens'a·ble·ness n., in'dis·pens'a·bly adv.
Synonyms: These adjectives indicate a pressing need: foods indispensable to good nutrition; funds essential to completing the project; necessary tools and materials; provided them with all things needful; lacking the requisite qualifications.
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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Indispensable

In`dis*pen"sa*ble\, a. [Pref. in- not + dispensable: cf. F. indispensable.]

1. Not dispensable; impossible to be omitted, remitted, or spared; absolutely necessary or requisite.

2. (Eccl.) Not admitting dispensation; not subject to release or exemption. [R.]

The law was moral and indispensable. --Bp. Burnet.

3. Unavoidable; inevitable. [Obs.] --Fuller.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : indispensable
Spanish: indispensable,
German: unentbehrlich,
Japanese: 欠くことのできない
More Translations »

indispensable 
1533, from M.L. indispensabilis, from in- "not" + dispensabilis (see dispense).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: in·dis·pen·sa·ble
Pronunciation: "in-di-'spen-s&-b&l
Function: adjective
: having rights so connected to the claims of the parties to an action that the action cannot be adjudicated without affecting those rights —see also indispensable party at PARTY
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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