unexpressibleadj.n.
/ˌʌnᵻkˈsprɛsᵻbl/, /ˌʌnɛkˈsprɛsᵻbl/, U.S. /ˌənᵻkˈsprɛsəb(ə)l/, /ˌənɛkˈsprɛsəb(ə)l/ Now rare or Obsolete.
a. = inexpressible adj.
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
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1621) iii. 264 As well consorted partes to such an vnexpressible harmonie.
a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1954) VII. 136 That un-expressible worke of the Redemption.
a1674 T. Traherne Christian Ethicks (1675) 73 The First of these is occasioned by a secret and unexpressible Agreement of Tempers.
1731 A. Bower Historia Litteraria 2 267 The many, almost unexpressible, Calamities he suffered, during his Captivity.
1826 R. Southey Vindiciæ Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ 177 An unexpressible, uncomparable, unimaginable stench..filled that whole place of darkness.
b. n. = inexpressible n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > underwear > [noun]
linenc1330
napery1598
small clothes1625
linings1631
unders1731
underdress1788
unmentionable1791
unexpressible1810
underclothes1824
underclothing1835
unmentionabilities1840
underthings1864
underwear1872
under-gear1883
innerwear1904
scanty1928
smalls1934
long john1941
skivvy1945
1810 S. Green Reformist I. 92 No, we called 'em ‘fie-for-shames’, ‘unexpressibles’, ‘inspeakables’; for ‘small-clothes’ has been long out of wogue.
Derivatives
unexˈpressibleness n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > unintelligibility > inexpressibility > [noun]
unspeakablenessa1586
incommunicableness1615
ineffability1629
incommunicability1640
unexpressibleness1652
ineffableness1681
unutterableness1681
inexpressibleness1727
unexpressibility1817
indescribability1824
inexpressibility1826
unspeakability1845
unnameability1862
indescribableness1880
1652 I. Ambrose Media (ed. 2) iii. 56 The Infiniteness, and unexpressibleness of Gods Bounty.
a1672 P. Sterry Disc. Freedom of Will (1675) 7 The unexpressibleness of the Divinity, and the Divine Vnity.
unexˈpressiˈbility n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > unintelligibility > inexpressibility > [noun]
unspeakablenessa1586
incommunicableness1615
ineffability1629
incommunicability1640
unexpressibleness1652
ineffableness1681
unutterableness1681
inexpressibleness1727
unexpressibility1817
indescribability1824
inexpressibility1826
unspeakability1845
unnameability1862
indescribableness1880
1817 J. Bentham Chrestomathia Pt. II 303 Of impracticability, in this case two causes present themselves..: viz. uncognoscibility and unexpressibility.
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.a1586