Adjacent Words

Inviolable definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

INVI'OLABLE, a. [L. inviolabilis; in and violabilis, violo, to violate.]
1. Not to be profaned; that ought not to be injured, polluted or treated with irreverence; as, a sacred place and sacred things should be considered inviolable.
2. Not to be broken; as an inviolable league, covenant, agreement, contract, vow or promise.
3. Not to be injured or tarnished; as inviolable chastity or honor.
4. Not susceptible of hurt or wound; as inviolable saints.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: incapable of being transgressed or dishonored; "the person of the king is inviolable"; "an inviolable oath" [ant: violable]
2: immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with; "an impregnable fortress"; "fortifications that made the frontier inviolable"; "a secure telephone connection" [syn: impregnable, inviolable, secure, strong, unassailable, unattackable]
3: must be kept sacred [syn: inviolable, inviolate, sacrosanct]
4: not capable of being violated or infringed; "infrangible human rights" [syn: absolute, infrangible, inviolable]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin inviolabilis, from in- + violare to violate Date: 15th century 1. secure from violation or profanation <an inviolable law> 2. secure from assault or trespass ; unassailable <inviolable borders> • inviolability noun • inviolableness noun • inviolably adverb

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. not to be violated or profaned. Derivatives: inviolability n. inviolably adv. Etymology: F inviolable or L inviolabilis (as IN-(1), VIOLATE)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Inviolable In*vi"o*la*ble, a. [L. inviolabilis: cf. F. inviolable. See Inviolate, a.] 1. Not violable; not susceptible of hurt, wound, or harm (used with respect to either physical or moral damage); not susceptible of being profaned or corrupted; sacred; holy; as, inviolable honor or chastity; an inviolable shrine. He tried a third, a tough, well-chosen spear, The inviolable body stood sincere. --Dryden. 2. Unviolated; uninjured; undefiled; uncorrupted. For thou, be sure, shalt give account To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep This place inviolable, and these from harm. --Milton. 3. Not capable of being broken or violated; as, an inviolable covenant, agreement, promise, or vow. Their almighty Maker first ordained And bound them with inviolable bands. --Spenser. And keep our faiths firm and inviolable. --Shak.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. If a law or principle is inviolable, you must not break it. (FORMAL) The game had a single inviolable rule: obstacles were to be overcome, not circumvented. ADJ 2. If a country says its borders are inviolable, it means they must not be changed or crossed without permission. (FORMAL) Yesterday's resolution says the present Polish border is 'inviolable'. ADJ • inviolability Parliament has recognised the inviolability of the current border.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. Sacred, inviolate, stainless, holy.

Moby Thesaurus

awesome, awful, blessed, chaste, consecrated, dependable, divine, faithworthy, hallowed, heavenly, holy, impenetrable, impregnable, incontestable, incorruptible, indomitable, ineffable, inenarrable, inexpressible, inexpugnable, insuperable, invincible, inviolate, invulnerable, irresistible, numinous, overpowering, overwhelming, proven, pure, reliable, religious, resistless, responsible, sacred, sacrosanct, spiritual, straight, sure, tested, to be trusted, tried, tried and true, true, trustable, trustworthy, trusty, unassailable, unbeatable, unconquerable, unfalse, unperfidious, unspeakable, unsubduable, unsurmountable, untouchable, untreacherous, unutterable, unyielding, venerable