Adjacent Words

Indelible definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

INDEL'IBLE, a. [L. indelebilis; in and delebilis, from deleo,to blot out.]
1. Not to be blotted out; that cannot be effaced or canceled; as indelible letters or characters. Indelible ink is such as cannot be taken out of paper or cloth, or not by ordinary means.
2. Not to be annulled.
They are endued with indelible power from above, to feed and govern this household. [Unusual.]
3. That cannot be effaced or lost; as, impressions on the mind may be indelible; reproach or stain on reputation may be indelible.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: cannot be removed or erased; "an indelible stain"; "indelible memories" [syn: indelible, unerasable]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: Middle English indelyble, from Medieval Latin indelibilis, alteration of Latin indelebilis, from in- + del?re to delete Date: 15th century 1. a. that cannot be removed, washed away, or erased b. making marks that cannot easily be removed <an indelible pencil> 2. a. lasting <indelible memories> b. unforgettable, memorable <an indelible performance> • indelibility noun • indelibly adverb

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 that cannot be rubbed out or (in abstract senses) removed. 2 (of ink etc.) that makes indelible marks. Derivatives: indelibility n. indelibly adv. Etymology: F indélébile or L indelebilis (as IN-(1), delebilis f. delere efface)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Indelible In*del"i*ble, a. [L. indelebilis; pref. in- not + delebilis capable of being destroyed: cf. F. ind['e]l['e]bile. See In- not, and Deleble.] [Formerly written also indeleble, which accords with the etymology of the word.] 1. That can not be removed, washed away, blotted out, or effaced; incapable of being canceled, lost, or forgotten; as, indelible characters; an indelible stain; an indelible impression on the memory. 2. That can not be annulled; indestructible. [R.] They are endued with indelible power from above. --Sprat. Indelible colors, fast colors which do not fade or tarnish by exposure. Indelible ink, an ink obliterated by washing; esp., a solution of silver nitrate. Syn: Fixed; fast; permanent; ineffaceable. -- In*del"i*ble*ness, n. -- In*del"i*bly, adv. Indelibly stamped and impressed. --J. Ellis.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

If you say that something leaves an indelible impression, you mean that it is very unlikely to be forgotten. My visit to India in 1986 left an indelible impression on me... ADJ: usu ADJ n • indelibly The horrors he experienced are imprinted, perhaps indelibly, in his brain. ADV: ADV with v

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. Ineffaceable, ingrained, not to be blotted out.

Moby Thesaurus

absorbing, acute, colorfast, constant, deathless, deep, deep-dyed, deep-felt, deepgoing, double-dyed, dyed-in-the-wool, enduring, fadeless, fast, fixed, haunting, heartfelt, homefelt, immortal, imperishable, impregnable, incorruptible, indestructible, ineffaceable, ineradicable, inexpugnable, inextinguishable, ingrain, ingrained, invincible, invulnerable, keen, lasting, nagging, nonperishable, obsessive, penetrating, permanent, persistent, pervading, piercing, poignant, profound, quenchless, recurrent, sharp, undampable, undestroyable, undying, unerasable, unfading, unforgettable, unquenchable