indeterminableadj.n.
/ɪndɪˈtəːmɪnəb(ə)l/ A. adj. Not determinable.† 1. Incapable of being limited or bounded in respect of range, number, etc. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > infiniteness > [adjective] > that cannot be circumscribed
incomprehensiblea1340
interminablec1374
indeterminable1486
uncompassable?1536
incircumscriptible1550
unlimitable1576
uncircumscriptible1577
immensible1579
illimitable1596
uncircumscribable1608
abyssal1609
unboundable1622
undeterminable1633
indefinible1652
unterminablea1677
exterminable1813
1486 Bk. St. Albans, Her. A v Ther ben ix. vices contrari to gentilmen of the wiche v. ben indetermynable and iiij determynable. The v indetermynable ben theys: oon to be full of slowthe in his werris [etc.].
1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar i. §11 His memory is indeterminable and unalterable, ever remembring to do us good.
1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding ii. xvii. 105 Conceiving our selves to be as it were in the Centre [of space], we do on all sides pursue those indeterminable Lines of Number.
2. Of disputes, difficulties, etc.: Incapable of being decided or settled.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > insecure knowledge, uncertainty > questionable state or quality > [adjective] > incapable of being decided
indeterminable1611
undeterminablea1639
undecidable1640
inconcludinga1644
indijudicable1660
undecisive1661
fallible1664
inconcludent1671
inconclusive1700
indecisive1726
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xvi. 671/1 In Monarchies..where lineall succession is the rule of inheritance, there somtimes fall out as great and as indeterminable difficulties, as where Election designeth the Successor.
1651 T. Hobbes Philos. Rudim. xvii. §27. 334 The controversies which rise among them will become innumerable, and indeterminable.
1841–8 F. Myers Catholic Thoughts II. iv. §32. 333 Were the whole question to be determined by the old Testament alone, it would be at present for us indeterminable.
3.
a. Incapable of being definitely fixed or ascertained.
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
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
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica vi. i. 273 As its [the world's] period is inscrutable, so is its nativity indeterminable . View more context for this quotation
1798 W. F. Mavor Brit. Tourists V. 31 Veins of rock run into the sea to an indeterminable distance.
1881 B. F. Westcott & F. J. A. Hort New Test. in Orig. Greek II. Introd. i. 9 The gain or loss..is from the nature of the case indeterminable.
b. Natural History. Of which the species, or place in classification, cannot be determined.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > taxonomy > [adjective] > that cannot be classified
indeterminable1848
1848 R. Owen in Times 11 Nov. Of any large marine nondescript or indeterminable monster they [the museums of Scandinavia] cannot shew a trace.
B. n.
An indeterminable point or problem.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > that which is unknown > [noun] > instance of
terra incognita1616
indeterminable1646
X1808
unknown1829
incognita1846
the other side of the hill1852
terra ignotaa1925
another country1952
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica vii. i. 340 To condemne such indeterminables, unto him that demanded on what hand Venus was wounded, the Philosopher thought it a sufficient resolution to reinquire upon what leg King Philip halted. View more context for this quotation
Derivatives
indeˈterminableness n. the quality of being indeterminable. (In modern dictionaries.)
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
<
adj.n.1486