Wiktionary

incorrigible

English edit

WOTD – 10 April 2016

Etymology edit

From Middle English incorrigible, from Middle French incorrigible (1334), or directly from Latin incorrigibilis (“not to be corrected”), from in- (“not”) +‎ corrigere (“to correct”) +‎ -ibilis (“-able”). Recorded since 1340.

Pronunciation edit

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɪnˈkɒɹɪdʒəb(ə)l/, /ɪnˈkɒɹɪdʒɪb(ə)l/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ɪnˈkɔɹɪd͡ʒəb(ə)l/, /ɪnˈkɔɹəd͡ʒəb(ə)l/
  • Audio (AU)(file)
  • Hyphenation: in‧cor‧ri‧gi‧ble

Adjective edit

incorrigible (not comparable)

  1. Defective and impossible to materially correct or set aright.
    The construction flaw is incorrigible; any attempt to amend it would cause a complete collapse.
  2. Incurably depraved; not reformable.
    His dark soul was too incorrigible to repent, even at his execution.
  3. Impervious to correction by punishment or pain.
  4. Unmanageable.
    • 2006 December 7, Michael White, “Breaking up is hard to do, even at the Treasury”, in The Guardian‎[1], London:
      Gordon Brown may have his grumpy, Granita moments, but as a strategist he is an incorrigible optimist.
  5. Determined, unalterable, hence impossible to improve upon.
    The laws of nature and mathematics are incorrigible.
  6. (archaic) Incurable.
    • 1859, The British Journal of Psychiatry, volume 6, page 312:
      It may appear as an epidemic, as a hereditary complaint, or as an obstinate and incorrigible disease again and again recurring.

Synonyms edit

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Antonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

unmanageable — see unmanageable
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Noun edit

incorrigible (plural incorrigibles)

  1. An incorrigibly bad individual.
    The incorrigibles in the prison population are either lifers or habitual reoffenders.

Translations edit

French edit

Etymology edit

Recorded since 1334 as Middle French incorrigible, from Latin incorrigibilis (“not to be corrected”), from in- "not" + corrigere "to correct" + -ibilis "-able".

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ɛ̃.kɔ.ʁi.ʒibl/

Adjective edit

incorrigible (plural incorrigibles)

  1. incorrigible
    Antonyms: corrigible, corrigeable

Related terms edit

Noun edit

incorrigible m (plural incorrigibles)

  1. an incorrigible

Further reading edit

Middle English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Middle French incorrigible, from Latin incorrigibilis.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /inˌkɔriˈdʒiːbəl/, /inˈkɔridʒibəl/

Adjective edit

incorrigible (Late Middle English)

  1. insoluble, unmanageable
  2. irredeemable, not reformable

Descendants edit

  • English: incorrigible

References edit

Middle French edit

Etymology edit

Learned borrowing from Latin incorrigibilis.

Adjective edit

incorrigible m or f (plural incorrigibles)

  1. unpunished
    Pource que nous ne vouloiens mie que telz fais demourast incorrigibles […]
    Because we don't want such deeds to go unpunished

Descendants edit

References edit

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