Impenetrable
[ɪm'penɪtrəb(ə)l] or [ɪm'pɛnɪtrəbl]
Definition
(adj.) impossible to understand; 'impenetrable jargon' .
(adj.) not admitting of penetration or passage into or through; 'an impenetrable fortress'; 'impenetrable rain forests' .
Checker: Wendy--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Incapable of being penetrated or pierced; not admitting the passage of other bodies; not to be entered; impervious; as, an impenetrable shield.
(a.) Having the property of preventing any other substance from occupying the same space at the same time.
(a.) Inaccessible, as to knowledge, reason, sympathy, etc.; unimpressible; not to be moved by arguments or motives; as, an impenetrable mind, or heart.
Inputed by Angela
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. Not to be penetrated, not to be pierced.
Edited by Diana
Synonyms and Antonyms
[See PENETRABLE]
Editor: Pedro
Definition
adj. incapable of being pierced: preventing another body from occupying the same space at the same time: not to be impressed in mind or heart.—n. Impenetrabil′ity one of the essential properties of matter implying that no two bodies can at the same time occupy the same space.—adv. Impen′etrably.
Inputed by Dennis
Examples
- The way to the Secret lay through the mystery, hitherto impenetrable to all of us, of the woman in white. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Close around them loomed the impenetrable blackness of the jungle. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- Thus far, the true story of his life was an impenetrable mystery to me. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- I only got back from Ireland last night, said the Sergeant, coming round to the practical object of his visit, in his own impenetrable manner. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- The strife still continues between impenetrable armour plate and irresistible projectiles. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- The contract completed, she raised between them a barrier impenetrable as a wall. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- It's perfectly useless, my Lord, attempting to get at any evidence through the impenetrable stupidity of this witness. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- Mr. Bruff opened it, with his papers in his hand--immersed in Law; impenetrable to Medicine. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- The thunder ceased; but the rain still continued, and the scene was enveloped in an impenetrable darkness. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
- She could not have known it, but she was being borne farther and farther into the impenetrable jungle. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- The paper over each window was impenetrable to light, and a blue curtain was drawn across the glass work in front. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- Sometimes I endeavoured to gain from Frankenstein the particulars of his creature's formation; but on this point he was impenetrable. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
- Irresistible Projectiles and Impenetrable Armour Plate. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- The streams were numerous, deep and sluggish, sometimes spreading out into swamps grown up with impenetrable growths of trees and underbrush. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- I had reached the woman at last through the barrier of impenetrable reserve that she had tried to set up between us. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- No amount of questioning could extract a single answer of any importance from the lad's impenetrable stupidity. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- But the words died under the impenetrable insolence of Bertha's smile. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- For several hours he traveled a little north of east until he came to an impenetrable wall of matted and tangled vegetation. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- From a great mass of impenetrable foliage a few yards away emerged Tarzan of the Apes to swing quietly in his wake. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- The chaparral before us was impenetrable except where there were roads or trails, with occasionally clear or bare spots of small dimensions. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- But not a star showed above--only utter and impenetrable darkness. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- Chocolat a la Vanille, cried the impenetrable man, cheerfully rattling the sweetmeats in the box, and bowing all round. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- So the ghostly figure which has haunted these pages, as it haunted my life, goes down into the impenetrable gloom. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- At other times I mean what I say, but at this time I mean what my wife says, replied the impenetrable Italian. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Lestrade had learned by more experiences than he would care to acknowledge that that brain could cut through that which was impenetrable to him. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- Processes for hardening steel, as the Harveyized steel, have given rise to a contest between irresistible projectiles and impenetrable armour plate. William Henry Doolittle. Inventions in the Century.
- I recalled my impenetrable calm--and played it. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- To hear those beautiful lines which have frequently almost driven me wild, pronounced with such impenetrable calmness, such dreadful indifference! Jane Austen. Sense and Sensibility.
Inputed by Dennis