indeclinable

[ in-di-klahy-nuh-buhl ]

adjective

, Grammar.

1. not capable of being declined; having no inflected forms: used especially of a word belonging to a form class most of whose members are declined, as the Latin adjective decem, “ten.”

indeclinable

/ ˌɪndɪˈklaɪnəbəl /

adjective

1. (of a noun or pronoun) having only one form; not declined for case or number

Derived Forms

• ˌindeˈclinableness, noun
• ˌindeˈclinably, adverb

Other Words From

• inde·clina·ble·ness noun
• inde·clina·bly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of indeclinable¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin indēclīnābilis unchangeable, inflexible. See in- ³, declinable

Example Sentences

“I have the experience of resistance and I have the experience of making indeclinable decisions.”

From Seattle Times

A noun which has no distinction of cases; an indeclinable noun.

From Project Gutenberg

Undeclinable, un-dē-klī′na-bl, adj. indeclinable: that cannot be avoided.—adj.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus the capitals of the Remi and Parisii were actually Durocortorum and Lutetia: the appellations in use were Remis or Remus, Parisiis or Parisius—these forms being indeclinable nouns formed from a sort of locative of the tribe names.

From Project Gutenberg

Syát, "may be," is here an indeclinable particle in the form of a part of a verb, used to convey the idea of indeterminateness; as it has been said— "This particle syát is in the form of a verb, but, from its being connected with the sense, it denotes indeterminateness in sentences, and has a qualifying effect on the implied meaning."

From Project Gutenberg