† unfailableadj.
Obsolete.
1. = infallible adj. 2a.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > [adjective] > infallible
unfailablec1450
infalliblea1492
inerrable1613
unerrable1616
inerrant1837
dead-on1889
c1450 (?c1425) St. Elizabeth of Spalbeck in Anglia (1885) 8 113 Bi an vnfaillabil clock.
c1450 (?c1425) St. Elizabeth of Spalbeck in Anglia (1885) 8 108 Stronge and vnfaylabil preef of hool and clene virginite.
1553 R. Eden in tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India Pref. sig. Aiiij Moste certayne..demonstracions of Geometrye, and vnfayleable experymentes.
1623 Bp. J. Hall Great Impostor 59 Trust them not, till you haue tried them by that vnfaileable rule of righteousnesse.
1672 O. Walker Of Educ. i. vi. 49 [Religion] is a principle, universal, perfect, unfailable.
2. Incapable of failing; sure, reliable.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > [adjective] > certain to succeed
unfailingc1400
unfailablea1525
indefectible1659
infallible1711
indefeatablea1754
surefire1838
undisappointable1871
sure-shot1895
slam dunk1980
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > reliability > [adjective]
sickerc1100
very1303
certainc1325
trustyc1390
soothfasta1400
surea1400
unfailingc1400
unfailablea1525
unfallible1529
infailable1561
reliable1569
cocksurea1575
faithful1611
infalliblea1616
well-proven1639
unfallida1641
indefailable1693
securea1729
pukka1776
a1525 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 383 in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1925) II. 106 Of scotland ye were wall..Our fais force to defend & vnfalȝeable.
1553 Short Catech. Edw. VI 38 b Christ, the author, earnest and vnfailable pledge of theyr fayth.
1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Gen. xvii. 7) 135 The sure or unfailable mercies of David.
1681 ‘Philanax Verax’ Let. Duke of York 3 That He left there one to be Heir of His Graces and Spirit, in a perpetual unfailable Succession.
Derivatives
Obsolete.† unˈfailableness n. Obsolete
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > reliability > [noun]
sureness1589
unfailableness1624
unfailingnessa1656
undoubtedness1691
reliability1810
reliableness1841
1624 Bp. J. Hall True Peace-maker 8 Euery where extolling..the assurance and vnfailablenesse of that comfort.
a1656 Bp. J. Hall Shaking of Olive-tree (1660) ii. 137 He takes all beleevers into the partnership of this comfortable unfailablenesse.
unˈfailably adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > [adverb]
safelya1375
unfailably1555
undeceivably1564
infallibly1597
unerringly1645
inerrably1672
inerringly1755
unmistakingly1838
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > reliability > [adverb]
unfallibly1542
unfailably1555
reliably1846
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 324 By the degrees..is vnfaylably measured the hole circumference of the lande and sea.
1641 Bp. J. Hall Def. Humble Remonstr. viii. 71 This is perpetually, and unfailably done by us.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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adj.c1450