Wiktionary

incorrigible

English

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WOTD – 10 April 2016

Etymology

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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”), equivalent to in- +‎ corrigible. Recorded since 1340.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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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

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Antonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Noun

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incorrigible (plural incorrigibles)

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

Translations

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French

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Etymology

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Recorded since 1334 as Middle French incorrigible, from Latin incorrigibilis (“not to be corrected”). Morphologically, from in- +‎ corrigible.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ɛ̃.kɔ.ʁi.ʒibl/

Adjective

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incorrigible (plural incorrigibles)

  1. incorrigible
    Synonyms: indécrottable, irrécupérable
    Antonyms: corrigible, corrigeable

Derived terms

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Noun

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incorrigible m (plural incorrigibles)

  1. an incorrigible

Further reading

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Middle English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Middle French incorrigible, from Latin incorrigibilis.

Pronunciation

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

Adjective

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incorrigible (Late Middle English)

  1. insoluble, unmanageable
  2. irredeemable, not reformable

Descendants

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  • English: incorrigible

References

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Middle French

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Etymology

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Learned borrowing from Latin incorrigibilis.

Adjective

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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

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References

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