inscrutability
UK[ɪnˌskruːtəˈbɪləti]US[ɪnˌskruːt̬əˈbɪləti]
n
the quality of being impossible to understand or interpret; impenetrability.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
scrut
ability
in
not
scrut
examine
ability
quality of
Etymology
the word inscrutability is built upon the latin verb 'scrutari', meaning to search or examine carefully, often by raking through rubbish. the prefix 'in-' negates this action, creating a sense of being unsearchable or unexamined. the suffix '-ability' then nominalizes this quality, forming an abstract noun. thus, the literal progression from "not able to be searched through" evolved into the modern abstract meaning denoting an impenetrable and mysterious quality that defies understanding.
Analysis
Structure: in (not) + scrut (examine) + ability (quality of)
in: latin origin, a prefix meaning "not".
scrut: from latin 'scrutari', meaning "to examine, search".
ability: from latin '-abilitas', a suffix forming nouns denoting a quality or state.
Examples
the inscrutability of the ancient text has puzzled scholars for centuries.
her expression was one of complete inscrutability, giving nothing away.
the inscrutability of his motives made everyone deeply suspicious.