Advertisement
inconceivable (adj.)
1630s, from in- (1) "not, opposite of" + conceivable. Related: Inconceivably; inconceivability. An Old English word for this was unasmeagendlic.
Entries linking to inconceivable
in- (1)word-forming element meaning "not, opposite of, without" (also im-, il-, ir- by assimilation of -n- with following consonant, a tendency which began in later Latin), from Latin in- "not," cognate with Greek an-, Old English un-, all from PIE root *ne- "not."
In Old French and Middle English often en-, but most of these forms have not survived in Modern English, and the few that do (enemy, for instance) no longer are felt as negative. The rule of thumb in English has been to use in- with obviously Latin elements, un- with native or nativized ones.
In Old French and Middle English often en-, but most of these forms have not survived in Modern English, and the few that do (enemy, for instance) no longer are felt as negative. The rule of thumb in English has been to use in- with obviously Latin elements, un- with native or nativized ones.
Others are reading
Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of inconceivable
Dictionary entries near inconceivable
incompletion
incomprehensibility
incomprehensible
incomprehension
incomprehensive
inconceivable
inconclusive
incondite
inconducive
incongruence
incongruent
