indigestible
UK[ˌɪndɪˈdʒestəbl]US[ˌɪndɪˈdʒestəbl]
adj
(of food) difficult or impossible to digest
adj
(of information or ideas) difficult to understand or accept
Morpheme Breakdown
in
digest
ible
in
not
digest
to break down food
ible
capable of
Etymology
The word "indigestible" is a logical construction built upon the Latin verb digerere, meaning "to separate, dissolve, or arrange." This verb, combined with the adjectival suffix -ibilis, produced the Late Latin indigestibilis, literally meaning "not capable of being broken down." The term entered English in the late 15th century, initially describing food that the stomach could not process. Over time, its application broadened metaphorically to describe complex information or unpalatable ideas that the mind finds difficult to "break down" and assimilate, perfectly preserving the original logic of dissolution and assimilation from its Latin roots.
Analysis
Structure: in (not) + digest (to break down food) + ible (capable of)
- in: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "not" or "opposite of".
- digest: Latin origin (from digerere), the core verb meaning "to break down, separate, dissolve".
- ible: Latin suffix (-ibilis), forming adjectives meaning "capable of, susceptible to".
Examples
The meat was so tough it was completely indigestible.
He presented his theory in a dense and indigestible format.
Some raw vegetables can be indigestible for people with sensitive stomachs.