early 15c., from Middle French inexplicable or directly from Latin inexplicabilis "that cannot be unfolded or disentangled, very intricate," figuratively, "inexplicable," from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + explicabilis "that may be explained" (see explicable).
As a noun, 1745, "something that cannot be explained;" jocular inexplicables "trousers" is from 1829. Related: Inexplicably; inexplicability.
