Added 10 October 2026
impregnable
/ɪmˈpɹɛɡ.nəˌb(ə)l/ adjective
In Latin: adamantinus, inexpugnābilis Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about impregnable at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Of a fortress or other fortified place: able to withstand all attacks; impenetrable, inconquerable, unvanquishable.
- Too strong to be defeated or overcome; invincible.
adjective
- Capable of being impregnated; impregnatable.
Origin
From Late Middle English imprenable, impregnable (“impossible to capture, impregnable”), from Old French imprenable (modern French imprenable (“impregnable”)), from im- (a variant of in- (prefix meaning ‘not’) + prenable (“(military) of a building, position, etc.: takable”) (from prendre (“to take”) + -able (suffix meaning ‘creating an effect or influence’)). Prendre is derived from Latin prēndere, present active infinitive of prēndō, a variant of prehendō (“to catch, lay hold of; to grasp; to grab, snatch; to seize, take”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʰed- (“to find; to hold; to seize, take”). The intrusive g in the English word was modelled after words like deign and reign.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)