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ineffable

 - 3 dictionary results

in⋅ef⋅fa⋅ble

  [in-ef-uh-buhl]
Use ineffable in a Sentence
–adjective
1. incapable of being expressed or described in words; inexpressible: ineffable joy.
2. not to be spoken because of its sacredness; unutterable: the ineffable name of the deity.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < L ineffābilis. See in- 3 , effable

Related forms:
in⋅ef⋅fa⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, in⋅ef⋅fa⋅ble⋅ness, noun
in⋅ef⋅fa⋅bly, adverb

Synonyms:
2. unspeakable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ineffable
in·ef·fa·ble   (ĭn-ěf'ə-bəl)   
adj.  

  1. Incapable of being expressed; indescribable or unutterable. See Synonyms at unspeakable.

  2. Not to be uttered; taboo: the ineffable name of God.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin ineffābilis : in-, not; see in-1 + effābilis, utterable (from effārī, to utter : ex-, ex- + fārī, to speak; see bhā-2 in Indo-European roots).]
in·ef'fa·bil'i·ty, in·ef'fa·ble·ness n., in·ef'fa·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

ineffable 
c.1450, from Fr. ineffable (14c.), from L. ineffabilis "unutterable," from in- "not" + effabilis "speakable," from effari "utter," from ex- "out" + fari "speak" (see fame).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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