Nearby Words

infallible

[in-fal-uh-buhl] Origin

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.

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Infallible is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.

Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin infallibilis. See in-3, fallible

in·fal·li·bil·i·ty, in·fal·li·ble·ness, noun
in·fal·li·bly, adverb
non·in·fal·li·ble, adjective
non·in·fal·li·b·ly, adverb


1, 2. See reliable.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
infallible (ɪnˈfæləbəl)
 
adj
1.  not fallible; not liable to error
2.  not liable to failure; certain; sure: an infallible cure
3.  completely dependable or trustworthy
 
n
4.  a person or thing that is incapable of error or failure
 
infalli'bility
 
n
 
in'fallibleness
 
n
 
in'fallibly
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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