inextricable
UK[ˌɪnɪkˈstrɪkəbl̩]US[ˌɪnɪkˈstrɪkəbl̩]
adj
impossible to separate, remove, or escape from; closely linked or involved.
adj
impossible to untangle or solve.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
ex
tric
able
in
not
ex
out
tric
obstacle, perplexity
able
capable of
Etymology
the word 'inextricable' originates from the latin inextricabilis, itself formed from the negative prefix in-, the prefix ex- meaning 'out', and the root tricae which referred to perplexities, hindrances, or tricky complications. the literal sense was 'not capable of being disentangled from complications'. the root tricae is thought to be of obscure origin, possibly imitative of something entangled. over time, the meaning evolved from the concrete idea of being unable to physically untangle something to describing abstract situations, relationships, or problems that are so closely interwoven or complicated that they cannot be separated or resolved.
Analysis
Structure: in (not) + ex (out) + tric (obstacle, perplexity) + able (capable of)
in- (latin, prefix meaning 'not'); ex- (latin, prefix meaning 'out'); tric- (from latin tricae, meaning 'perplexities, hindrances, wiles'); -able (latin suffix via french, meaning 'capable of, fit for').
Examples
the histories of our two nations are inextricably linked.
he found himself in an inextricable dilemma with no clear solution.
the vines had grown into an inextricable mass over the old fence.