innominableadj.n.
archaic.
A. adj.
Incapable of being named or not fit to be named.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > unintelligibility > inexpressibility > [adjective]
unsayinglyOE
wordlessa1200
unanemneda1225
unspeaking1340
untellablea1382
unenarrable1382
unspeakablea1400
ineffablec1450
inenarrablec1450
indicible1480
enarrable1482
inexplicable1502
inspeakable?1504
innominable1532
unoutspeakable1535
unexpressable1548
innarrable1554
inpronunciable1554
uncommunicable1555
inexprimablea1577
unexpressiblea1586
unutterablea1586
expressless1590
nameless1597
recountless1601
inutterable1603
indeclarable1610
unnameable1610
unreportable1611
speakless1612
unexpressivea1616
inexpressiblea1631
utterless1643
inexpressive1652
unwordablec1660
incommunicable1694
paintless1729
descriptionless1749
undelineable1767
describeless1799
indefinable1810
undescribable1818
unqualifiable1822
untelling1823
utterless1832
unpindownable1915
the mind > language > naming > anonymity or lack of a name > [adjective] > incapable of being named
innominable1532
indenominable1647
1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer i. f. cccxxxiiiiv Of foule thynges innominable.
1533 tr. Erasmus Com. Crede T vij b God is as muche innominable as he is inymaginable and inuisible.
1570 H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. v. f. 129 The excesse of the one to the other is euer vnknowen, & therefore is surd, and innominable.
1625 T. James Manuduction Divinitie Ep. Ded. As concerning the manuscripts, they are..innominable as yet.
1839 Fraser's Mag. 19 626 Those innominable garments, the mere allusion to which is sufficient to shock ears polite.
1848 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 3) 201 There are innominable depths, Which cannot be revealed of human life.
B. n. in plural (humorous euphemism)
‘Unmentionables’, trousers.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for legs > clothing for legs and lower body > [noun] > trousers
trouse1678
trousers1681
kicks1699
trousiesa1713
brogues1748
inexpressibles1790
unmentionable1791
et cetera1794
indescribable1794
kickseys1819
ineffables1823
indispensablesa1828
unimaginable1833
pantaloon1834
pants1835
inexplicables1836
never-mention-'ems1836
unwhisperable1837
results1839
sit-down-upons1839
sit-upons1839
unmentionabilities1840
innominablea1843
unutterables1843
trews1847
round-the-houses1857
unprintable1860
stovepipe1863
sit-in-ems1873
reach-me-downs1877
strides1889
rounds1893
long1898
kecks1900
rammies1906
trou1911
pants1970
a1843 R. Southey Doctor (1847) VII. 606 The lower part of his dress represented innominables and hose in one.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online December 2019).
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adj.n.1532