ignoble

[ ig-noh-buhl ]
/ ɪgˈnoʊ bəl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ignoble ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of low character, aims, etc.; mean; base: his ignoble purposes.
of low grade or quality; inferior.
not noble; of humble descent or rank.
Falconry. noting any hawk with short wings that chases or rakes after the quarry.

Origin of ignoble

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin ignōbilis unknown, inglorious, equivalent to in- in-3 + OL gnōbilis (Latin nōbilis) noble

OTHER WORDS FROM ignoble

ig·no·bil·i·ty, ig·no·ble·ness, noun ig·no·bly, adverb

Words nearby ignoble

ignition interlock, ignition key, ignition point, ignition system, ignitron, ignoble, ignominious, ignominy, ignoramus, ignorance, ignorance is bliss

Words related to ignoble

abject, base, coarse, common, contemptible, corrupt, craven, dastardly, degenerate, degraded, despicable, disgraceful, dishonorable, heinous, humble, infamous, inferior, lewd, low, mean

Example sentences from the Web for ignoble

British Dictionary definitions for ignoble

ignoble
/ (ɪɡˈnəʊbəl) /

adjective

dishonourable; base; despicable
of low birth or origins; humble; common
of low quality; inferior
falconry
  1. designating short-winged hawks that capture their quarry by swiftness and adroitness of flightCompare noble (def. 7)
  2. designating quarry which is inferior or unworthy of pursuit by a particular species of hawk or falcon

Derived forms of ignoble

ignobility or ignobleness, noun ignobly, adverb

Word Origin for ignoble

C16: from Latin ignōbilis, from in- 1 + Old Latin gnōbilis noble