impenetrability
UK[ɪmˌpenɪtrəˈbɪləti]US[ɪmˌpenɪtrəˈbɪləti]
n
the quality of being impossible to enter, pass through, or see through.
n
the quality of being impossible to understand.
Morpheme Breakdown
im
penetr
ability
im
not
penetr
to go into
ability
quality of
Etymology
the word 'impenetrability' is built upon the latin verb 'penetrare', meaning 'to enter into'. the prefix 'in-' (here assimilated to 'im-') negates this core action, creating a sense of being 'unable to be entered'. this concept was carried through old french into english. the suffix '-ability', derived from latin '-abilitas', then abstracts the quality, transforming the descriptive 'impenetrable' into the noun denoting the state or quality itself. thus, the term logically progresses from the literal idea of something that cannot be physically pierced to more abstract applications, such as an idea that cannot be mentally understood.
Analysis
Structure: im (not) + penetr (to go into) + ability (quality of)
im- (prefix of latin origin, meaning 'not'); penetr- (root of latin origin, from 'penetrare', meaning 'to go into, enter'); -ability (suffix of latin/french origin, forming nouns meaning 'the quality or state of').
Examples
the impenetrability of the jungle made exploration extremely difficult.
the impenetrability of his academic writing discouraged many readers.
the fortress was renowned for the impenetrability of its walls.