impregnable, a. (n.)
(ɪmˈprɛgnəb(ə)l)
Forms: 5–7 imprenable, (5 inprenable, 6 inprennable, enprenabill), 6 impreignable, inpreyngnable, impreniable, 6– impregnable.
[Corrupted from impreignable, imprenable, a. F. imprenable, f. im- (im-2) + prenable able to be taken, f. pren-, stem of prendre to take. The g was evidently in imitation of the g mute in reign, deign, and the like, though it appears to have sometimes led in 16th c. to the pronunciation (nj).]
1. Of a fortress or stronghold: That cannot be taken by arms; incapable of being reduced by force; capable of holding out against all attacks.
| 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas vii. ix. (MS. Bodl.) lf. 360 b, Dreeding non enmy, for it was Imprenable. 1477 Earl Rivers Dictes 129 Dimycrates saide pacience is a castell imprenable. 1530 Palsgr. 756/2 The castell whiche men wente had ben inprennable is throwen downe nowe. 1531 Elyot Gov. i. xxvii, A fewe englisshe archers haue..also wonne impreignable cities and stronge holdes. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lix. 203 Stondyng on a rocke on the see syde, it was impreyngnable. 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. IV, 228 What a folye was this in duke Charles, to besege a towne impregnable. 1553 Brende Q. Curtius C v, They said they knewe it to be impreniable. 1556 J. Heywood Spider & F. lvii. 134 Se thenprenabill fort: in euery border. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, iv. i. 44 Let vs be back'd with God, and with the Seas, Which he hath giu'n for fence impregnable. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. ii. xix. 120 Such a mans soul is an impregnable fort. 1776 Gibbon Decl. & F. xiii. I. 369 Rendering his camp impregnable to the sallies of the besieged multitude. 1885 Ruskin Pleas. Eng. 100 The Normans set themselves to build impregnable military walls. |
2. fig. That cannot be overcome or vanquished; invincible, unconquerable, proof against attack.
| 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. ii. 4 b, Valyauntnesse of minde (for atteining of things impregnable). 1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. iii. Wks. 1856 I. 37, I find them wondrous chaste, Impregnable. a 1661 Fuller Worthies (1840) III. 309 He wrote an excellent book..containing impregnable truth. 1710 Steele Tatler No. 101 ¶1 This Iniquity is committed by a most impregnable Set of Mortals, Men who are Rogues within the Law. 1856 Kane Arct. Expl. I. xxxii. 448, I do not fear the cold: we are impregnable in our furs. 1862 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. viii. v. (1872) III. 29 A man politely impregnable to the intrusion of human curiosity. |
B. as n. That which is impregnable. rare.
| 1803 Gentl. Mag. in Spirit Pub. Jrnls. (1804) VII. 43 Disappointed in attacking our impregnables. |