unspeakable
|un-speak-a-ble|
C1
/ʌnˈspiːkəbl/
beyond words
Etymology
Etymology Information
'unspeakable' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'unspekable', where 'un-' meant 'not' and 'speakable' meant 'able to be spoken'.
Historical Evolution
'unspekable' transformed into the modern English word 'unspeakable'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'not able to be spoken', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'too awful or extreme to be expressed in words'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
too awful or extreme to be expressed in words.
The horror of the crime was unspeakable.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:41