ineffable

[ in-ef-uh-buhl ]
/ ɪnˈɛf ə bəl /

adjective

incapable of being expressed or described in words; inexpressible: ineffable joy.
not to be spoken because of its sacredness; unutterable: the ineffable name of the deity.

Origin of ineffable

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word ineffābilis. See in-3, effable

SYNONYMS FOR ineffable

OTHER WORDS FROM ineffable

in·ef·fa·bil·i·ty, in·ef·fa·ble·ness, noun in·ef·fa·bly, adverb

Example sentences from the Web for ineffability

British Dictionary definitions for ineffability

ineffable
/ (ɪnˈɛfəbəl) /

adjective

too great or intense to be expressed in words; unutterable
too sacred to be uttered
indescribable; indefinable

Derived forms of ineffable

ineffability or ineffableness, noun ineffably, adverb

Word Origin for ineffable

C15: from Latin ineffābilis unutterable, from in- 1 + effābilis, from effārī to utter, from fārī to speak