undefinableadj.n.
/ˌʌndᵻˈfʌɪnəbl/, U.S. /ˌəndəˈfaɪnəb(ə)l/, /ˌəndiˈfaɪnəb(ə)l/ A. adj.
(un- prefix1 1b.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > questionable state or quality > state of being unprovable > [adjective]
unprovable1387
unprobable1532
undeterminable1588
unveritable1589
undemonstrable1593
unwarrantable1612
indeterminable1646
unavouchable1650
undefinable1690
unascertainable1827
unverifiable1861
incorrigible1946
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding Contents (heading) Names of simple Ideas undefinable.
1750 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 1 Nov. (1932) (modernized text) IV. 1599 That is the occasion in which manners, dexterity, address, and the undefinable je ne sais quoi triumph.
1780 E. Burke Speech Oeconomical Reformation 59 Other persons, meriting as little as they do, might be put upon it to an undefinable amount.
1827 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey III. v. xv. 329 When he was experiencing emotions, which, though undefinable, he felt to be new.
1884 R. W. Church Bacon viii. 201 The undefinable but very real character of greatness.
B. n.
Something which cannot be defined.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > questionable state or quality > [noun] > something uncertain
uncertaintya1387
ambiguity1445
moot point1563
measuring cast1631
inconcludency1654
disputablea1657
undefinable1809
tertium quid1826
open question1837
question mark1870
inconclusion1886
disputability1892
borderliner1953
undecidable1965
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas IV. x. xii. 230 I had no mind to meddle any more with the dish of undefinables.
Derivatives
undeˈfinableness n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > [noun] > unclear condition
obscurity1474
mist1532
cloud-lighta1536
indeterminateness1644
undistinction1647
indeterminacy1649
indistinction1651
undeterminateness1653
inestimability1678
undefinableness?1705
confusion1729
obnubilation1753
cloudiness1779
indistinctness1783
haze1790
haziness1796
vagueness1799
nebulosity1809
undefinednessa1832
undecidedness1897
indeterminism1928
fuzziness1973
smog1976
?1705 G. Berkeley in A. C. Fraser Life & Lett. G. Berkeley (1871) 437 There may be another cause of the undefinableness of certain ideas,..viz. the want of names.
undeˈfinably adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > [adverb] > obscurely
obscurelya1527
diffuselyc1530
infinitely1530
diffusedly1567
cloudily1651
shadowishlya1680
vaguely1781
nebulouslya1796
undefinably1796
undefinedly1827
hazily1830
1796 F. Burney Camilla V. x. xi. 470 This reverie, poignantly agitating, yet undefinably soothing.
1886 W. J. Tucker Life E. Europe 127 Every village one passes through has..something undefinably characteristic about it.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1690