pregnable

[ preg-nuh-buhl ]

adjective

1. capable of being taken or won by force:

   a pregnable fortress.

2. open to attack; assailable:

   a pregnable argument.

pregnable

/ ˈprɛɡnəbəl /

adjective

1. capable of being assailed or captured

Derived Forms

• ˌpregnaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• pregna·bili·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pregnable¹

1400–50; late Middle English prenable < Middle French prenable, pregnable, equivalent to pren- (weak stem of prendre to seize, take < Latin pre ( he ) ndere; prehension ) + -able -able; -g- perhaps from obsolete expugnable (in same sense)

Word History and Origins

Origin of pregnable¹

C15 prenable, from Old French prendre to take, from Latin prehendere to lay hold of, catch

Example Sentences

Thanks to the leadership of King Priam and the courage and compassion of the Trojan people, our walled city is far stronger and even less pregnable than it was nine years ago, and we have won the fight against the Greeks.

From Washington Post

Mercedes’ Russian stronghold now also looks pregnable after Ferrari’s front row lockout yesterday, their first for nine years.

From The Guardian

A moment later, the commando squad breaks into this very pregnable fortress and kills everyone not billed above the title: the rogue warrior Frost and the low-level keeper of the safe house, Matt Weston.

From Time

Pregnable, preg′na-bl, adj. that may be taken by assault or force.

From Project Gutenberg

Only after Tunisia's longtime president fled his North African country last month did Mr. Mubarak's grip on power seem pregnable.

From Wall Street Journal