incorrigible

English
WOTD – 10 April 2016

Etymology

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

Pronunciation
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɪnˈkɒɹɨdʒɨb(ə)l/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ɪnˈkɔɹɨdʒɨb(ə)l/
  • Audio (AU)(file)
  • Hyphenation: in‧cor‧ri‧gi‧ble

Adjective

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.
    The imp is incorrigible: his bottom is still red from his last spanking when he plans the next prank.
  4. Unmanageable.
    • 2006 December 7, Michael White, “Breaking up is hard to do, even at the Treasury”, in The Guardian‎, 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

Derived terms

Translations
unmanageable — see unmanageable
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Translations to be checked

Noun

incorrigible (plural incorrigibles)

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

Translations

French

Etymology

Recorded since 1334, from Old French incorrigible (1334), or a borrowing directly from Latin incorrigibilis (“not to be corrected”), from in- "not" + corrigere "to correct" + -ibilis "-able".

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ɛ̃.kɔ.ʁi.ʒibl/

Adjective

incorrigible (plural incorrigibles)

  1. incorrigible

Antonyms

Noun

incorrigible m (plural incorrigibles)

  1. An incorrigible

Further reading

Old French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin incorrigibilis.

Adjective

incorrigible m (oblique and nominative feminine singular incorrigible)

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

Descendants

References
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