irretrievable
UK[ˌɪrɪˈtriːvəbl]US[ˌɪrɪˈtriːvəbl]
adj
not able to be retrieved, recovered, or corrected.
Morpheme Breakdown
ir
retrieve
able
ir
not
retrieve
to get back
able
capable of
Etymology
the word "irretrievable" is a layered construction built upon the concept of recovery. its core is the verb "retrieve", which entered english from french, carrying the sense of "to find again". this verb was then combined with the suffix "-able", common in english to form adjectives indicating possibility. finally, the negative prefix "ir-" was attached, an assimilated form of the latin "in-" used for negation. thus, the literal morphemic sequence "not + capable of finding again" evolved into the modern abstract meaning describing a state or loss that is permanent and beyond recovery.
Analysis
Structure: ir (not) + retrieve (to get back) + able (capable of)
- ir: a latin prefix meaning "not", an assimilated form of 'in-' used before 'r'.
- retrieve: from middle french 'retrouver' (to find again), itself from old french 're-' (again) + 'trover' (to find).
- able: a suffix of latin origin via old french, forming adjectives meaning "capable of, fit for, or deserving of a specified action".
Examples
the data was lost due to a corrupted hard drive and is now irretrievable.
he felt a sense of irretrievable loss after the fire destroyed his family home.
once the secret was revealed, the trust between them was irretrievable.