ineffable Hear it!

ineffable Definition

in·ef·fable (in ef′ə bəl)

adjective

  1. too overwhelming to be expressed or described in words; inexpressible ineffable beauty
  2. too awesome or sacred to be spoken God's ineffable name

Etymology: ME < MFr < L ineffabilis < in-, not + effabilis, utterable < effari, to speak out < ex-, out + fari, to speak: see fame

ineffable Related Forms
in′·ef·fabil′·ity noun or in·ef′·fable·ness in·ef′·fably adverb
ineffable Synonyms

ineffable

modif.

inexpressible, unutterable, unspeakable, indescribable; see impossible 1, mysterious 2.

ineffable Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • mystery: From generation to generation, the wonder evoked by this ineffable mystery never ceases.
  • joy: But it leads, in various possible ways, to the ineffable joy experienced by the mystics as " nuptial union " .
  • beauty: It is the ineffable beauty of God, His sublime nature, His final triumph.
  • condescension: Yet do I hymn Thine ineffable condescension, O Word!
  • sense: A similar point can be made about religious practice as opposed to an ineffable spiritual sense.
  • name: It was the enunciation of the ineffable name of God, by which he was revealed to Moses at the burning bush ( Ex.

Modifying Another Word

  • ultimately: Furthermore no senses operate at this level and the nature of the Atman is ultimately ineffable.
  • not: At the end of the paper it is suggested that this trace of nature in humanity is not ineffable or obscure.

Used with adjective complement

  • remain: Hopefully, meanwhile, something about the film remains ineffable until next time.
ineffable Quotes

He comes to us as One unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lakeside, He came to those who knew Him not. He speaks to us the same word: 'Follow thou me!' and setsustothetaskswhich Hehastofulfil forour time. He commands. And to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple,He will reveal Himself inthetoils, the conflicts, the sufferings which they shall pass through in His fellowship, and, as an ineffable mystery, they shall learn in their own experience who He is.

—Schweitzer, Albert

When you notice a cat in profound meditation The reason, I tell you, is always the same: His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name: His ineffable effable Effanineffable Deep and inscrutable singular name.

—Eliot,T(homas) S(tearns)