unsayableadj.n.

Brit.

/(ˌ)ʌnˈseɪəbl/, U.S.

/ˌənˈseɪəb(ə)l/

Forms: see un- prefix¹ and sayable adj. and n.

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: un- prefix¹, say v.¹, -able suffix.

Etymology: < un- prefix¹ + say v.¹ + -able suffix. Compare slightly later sayable adj. Compare earlier unspeakable adj., n., and adv.

A. adj.

Designating something that cannot or should not be spoken aloud or expressed in words, (now) esp. because it is considered too controversial, offensive, or frightening.

ΚΠ

1661 in S. Annesley Morning-exercise at Cripplegate xvi. 391 As unsaiable as the grave.

1848 H. W. Torrens Madame de Malguet I. vi. 170 I do not know it in English, I had it written down, but lost the memorandum: it was one of those strange unsayable names of yours, in French it sounded like Stretan.

1905 E. F. Benson Image in Sand vii. 99 The only things worth saying are just those which are unsayable.

1952 D. Lessing Martha Quest i. iii. 85 She stumbled over the unsayable truth, which was half a complaint against the snobbish English and half an explanation of her father's attitude.

2005 New Nation 26 Sept. 2/1 This former lefty and New Labour luvvie should be congratulated for his bravery in saying what has been unsayable.

B. n.

1. With the. That which is unsayable. Frequently (and in earliest use) in to say the unsayable.

ΚΠ

1870 J. Duncan & W. Knight Colloquia Peripatetica p. xii The thought might penetrate into that shadowy region where language almost breaks down in the effort, as he put it, ‘to say the unsayable’.

1876 Nation 13 July 29/2 M. Fromentin..can say so much so neatly and so vividly..that he loses all respect for the unsayable—the better half, we think, of all that belongs to a work of art.

1979 ‘J. le Carré’ Smiley's People (1980) iv. 49 Strickland incanted the unsayable: ‘No coat-trailing..No émigrés. No bugger all.’

2006 Reader's Digest Apr. 53/2 Being 60 means being able to say the unsayable and think the unthinkable.

2. Something that cannot or should not be spoken aloud or expressed in words; an unsayable word, opinion, idea, etc.In quot. 1917: spec. = unmentionable n. 1a.

ΚΠ

1917 Jrnl. Outdoor Life May 129/1 I kept shedding sweaters and overcoats & things (which latter is by the way including heavy unsayables).

1930 W. Greene Ride Nightmare v. 85 A host of unknowables, unsayables, hammered at Old Man Wimbish's mouth.

1972 B. F. Kawin Telling it Again & Again iv. 144 Identity has been renounced, but life has persisted, and the unknowables and unsayables whose knowing and saying is the mission of the existential artist.

2007 I. Warde Price of Fear xi. 163 Many of the unsayables of the post-September 11 era have become an acceptable part of the mainstream discourse.

Derivatives

unsayaˈbility n.

ΚΠ

1914 H. James Notes Son & Brother iv. 79 A manner and range of gesture and broken form of discourse..that seemed to take for granted..the general unsayability, in comparison, of anything else.

1973 Canad. Jrnl. Philos. 2 410 There are many sources of unsayability... Some non-linguistic performances (a drawing or a dance) can convey what is not conveyable by language.

1986 A. Coffa in R. G. Colodny From Quarks to Quasars 47 The reasons for the unsayability of the unsayable are still the same old awful ones.

2009 Independent (Nexis) 19 Dec. (Comment section) 35 A reserved non-speaking love is often the deepest love of all. In our decision not to speak it we acknowledge the profound unsayability of some of our most complex emotions.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	unsayable
释义	unsayableadj.n. Brit. /(ˌ)ʌnˈseɪəbl/, U.S. /ˌənˈseɪəb(ə)l/ Forms: see un- prefix¹ and sayable adj. and n. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: un- prefix¹, say v.¹, -able suffix. Etymology: < un- prefix¹ + say v.¹ + -able suffix. Compare slightly later sayable adj. Compare earlier unspeakable adj., n., and adv. A. adj. Designating something that cannot or should not be spoken aloud or expressed in words, (now) esp. because it is considered too controversial, offensive, or frightening. ΚΠ 1661 in S. Annesley Morning-exercise at Cripplegate xvi. 391 As unsaiable as the grave. 1848 H. W. Torrens Madame de Malguet I. vi. 170 I do not know it in English, I had it written down, but lost the memorandum: it was one of those strange unsayable names of yours, in French it sounded like Stretan. 1905 E. F. Benson Image in Sand vii. 99 The only things worth saying are just those which are unsayable. 1952 D. Lessing Martha Quest i. iii. 85 She stumbled over the unsayable truth, which was half a complaint against the snobbish English and half an explanation of her father's attitude. 2005 New Nation 26 Sept. 2/1 This former lefty and New Labour luvvie should be congratulated for his bravery in saying what has been unsayable. B. n. 1. With the. That which is unsayable. Frequently (and in earliest use) in to say the unsayable. ΚΠ 1870 J. Duncan & W. Knight Colloquia Peripatetica p. xii The thought might penetrate into that shadowy region where language almost breaks down in the effort, as he put it, ‘to say the unsayable’. 1876 Nation 13 July 29/2 M. Fromentin..can say so much so neatly and so vividly..that he loses all respect for the unsayable—the better half, we think, of all that belongs to a work of art. 1979 ‘J. le Carré’ Smiley's People (1980) iv. 49 Strickland incanted the unsayable: ‘No coat-trailing..No émigrés. No bugger all.’ 2006 Reader's Digest Apr. 53/2 Being 60 means being able to say the unsayable and think the unthinkable. 2. Something that cannot or should not be spoken aloud or expressed in words; an unsayable word, opinion, idea, etc.In quot. 1917: spec. = unmentionable n. 1a. ΚΠ 1917 Jrnl. Outdoor Life May 129/1 I kept shedding sweaters and overcoats & things (which latter is by the way including heavy unsayables). 1930 W. Greene Ride Nightmare v. 85 A host of unknowables, unsayables, hammered at Old Man Wimbish's mouth. 1972 B. F. Kawin Telling it Again & Again iv. 144 Identity has been renounced, but life has persisted, and the unknowables and unsayables whose knowing and saying is the mission of the existential artist. 2007 I. Warde Price of Fear xi. 163 Many of the unsayables of the post-September 11 era have become an acceptable part of the mainstream discourse. Derivatives unsayaˈbility n. ΚΠ 1914 H. James Notes Son & Brother iv. 79 A manner and range of gesture and broken form of discourse..that seemed to take for granted..the general unsayability, in comparison, of anything else. 1973 Canad. Jrnl. Philos. 2 410 There are many sources of unsayability... Some non-linguistic performances (a drawing or a dance) can convey what is not conveyable by language. 1986 A. Coffa in R. G. Colodny From Quarks to Quasars 47 The reasons for the unsayability of the unsayable are still the same old awful ones. 2009 Independent (Nexis) 19 Dec. (Comment section) 35 A reserved non-speaking love is often the deepest love of all. In our decision not to speak it we acknowledge the profound unsayability of some of our most complex emotions. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2018; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < adj.n.1661
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