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infallibility

 - 3 dictionary results

in⋅fal⋅li⋅ble

[in-fal-uh-buhl]
–adjective
1. absolutely trustworthy or sure: an infallible rule.
2. unfailing in effectiveness or operation; certain: an infallible remedy.
3. not fallible; exempt from liability to error, as persons, their judgment, or pronouncements: an infallible principle.
4. Roman Catholic Church. immune from fallacy or liability to error in expounding matters of faith or morals by virtue of the promise made by Christ to the Church.
–noun
5. an infallible person or thing.

Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < ML infallibilis. See in- 3 , fallible


in⋅fal⋅li⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, in⋅fal⋅li⋅ble⋅ness, noun
in⋅fal⋅li⋅bly, adverb


1, 2. See reliable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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in·fal·li·ble   (ĭn-fāl'ə-bəl)   
adj.  
  1. Incapable of erring: an infallible guide; an infallible source of information.

  2. Incapable of failing; certain: an infallible antidote; an infallible rule.

  3. Roman Catholic Church Incapable of error in expounding doctrine on faith or morals.


[Middle English, from Medieval Latin īnfallibilis : Latin in-, not; see in-1 + Medieval Latin fallibilis, fallible; see fallible.]
in·fal'li·bil'i·ty, in·fal'li·ble·ness n., in·fal'li·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

infallible 
1491, from M.L. infallibilis, from in- "not" + fallibilis (see fallible). In reference to Popes, attested from 1870.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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