impalpableadj.
/ɪmˈpalpəb(ə)l/ 1. Incapable of being felt by the organs of touch; imperceptible to the touch; intangible. Said of things immaterial; also, of very fine powder, in which no grit is perceptible when it is rubbed between the fingers.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > quality of being tangible > [adjective] > not
impalpable1509
unpalpable1538
the world > matter > constitution of matter > granular texture > [adjective] > powdery or dusty > fine
fine1425
impalpable1594
1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1845) xxiii. 106 Though that aungell be invysyble, Inpalpable, and also celestiall.
1594 H. Plat Jewell House 88 So subtiliated..as that it becam almost an impalpable powder.
1662 C. Merrett tr. A. Neri Art of Glass lxxvi Grind it to an impalpable powder.
1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Odyssey in Iliad & Odyssey II. ix. 609 A thing impalpable, A shadow.
1873 W. Lees Acoustics iii. iv. 100 Watery vapour, existing as an impalpable transparent gas.
2. figurative. Incapable of being (readily) grasped or apprehended by the mind; producing no definite mental impression; ‘intangible’.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > unintelligibility > [adjective]
uncouthc897
unnimlyc1225
incomprehensiblea1340
unsearchablec1384
unknowable?c1400
investigablea1425
uncomprehensiblea1425
unthinkablec1445
imperscrutablec1450
inscrutablec1450
inopinable?a1475
incomprenable1502
unspectable?1504
incogitablec1522
uncogitable1529
impenetrable1531
inimaginable1534
inexplicable1555
unsensible1555
unscrutable1562
unfashionable1563
unpenetrable1581
unexcogitable1592
ineffable1598
inexcogitable1599
indivinable1603
ininvestigable1604
incapable1605
searchless?1606
uncomprehensive1609
unconceivable1611
undivinable1611
unimaginable1611
unexplicable1615
unintelligible1616
unapprehensible?1617
unfathomable1617
imprehensible1622
ununderstandablea1631
indeprehensible1633
indiscernible1635
inscrute1639
inapprehensiblea1641
indiscoverable1640
unexaminable1641
impervestigable1643
fathomless1645
inconceivable1646
indeterminable1646
inexplorable1646
insearchable1647
incomprehended1652
comprehendlessa1654
incomprehensive1656
untraceable1661
uninvestigablea1677
unintelligent1683
incognoscible1691
thought-transcendinga1711
uncognizable1720
acataleptic1727
undescriptive1744
elusive1751
impalpable1781
inaccessible1796
unconjecturable1806
uncognoscible1821
unascertainable1827
unfixable1831
unguessable1832
unrealizable1832
unsurveyable1833
hard-shelled1835
unintellective1837
undeemed1845
graspless1849
unconjectured1850
incognizable1852
ungraspable1853
unreadable1853
super-cerebral1854
elusory1856
trans-conscious1865
intangible1880
uncatchable1892
unspelt1892
unplumbable1895
unknowledgeable1920
indiscutable1933
1781 T. Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry III. xxix. 200 His own religion from its simple and impalpable form was much less exposed to the ridicule of scenic exhibition.
1838 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Ferdinand & Isabella I. Introd. p. cxxii The almost impalpable beauties of style and expression.
1873 M. Arnold Lit. & Dogma ix. 285 The impalpable and incognisable character of the subjects treated.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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adj.1509