impenetrable
Meaning
impossible to enter or pass through
impossible to understand
Structure
Usage
the jungle was so dense it formed an impenetrable wall of green.
the ancient text remained impenetrable to modern scholars.
his argument was logical but delivered in such impenetrable jargon.
Etymology
the word 'impenetrable' is built upon the latin verb 'penetrare', meaning to go into or enter, which itself may derive from 'penitus', meaning inwardly or deeply. the prefix 'im-', a variant of 'in-' used before 'p', signifies negation, while the suffix '-able' indicates a quality or capacity. thus, the literal construction "not capable of being entered" evolved from a physical description of dense barriers to also describe abstract concepts, such as ideas or mysteries, that are impossible to understand or decipher.
Analysis
im: latin origin, a prefix meaning "not" or "without". penetr: latin origin, from the root of the verb 'penetrare', meaning "to go into" or "to enter". able: latin origin (via old french), a suffix forming adjectives meaning "capable of, fit for, or worthy of".