indeclinable, a. (n.)
(ɪndɪˈklaɪnəb(ə)l)
[a. F. indéclinable (15th c.), ad. L. indeclīnābilis unchangeable, grammatically indeclinable: see in-3 and declinable.]
† 1. Incapable of declining, or being caused to decline; undeviating, unchangeable, fixed, constant.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) IV. 25 This Fabricius is as indeclinable [1387 Trevisa ‘hardere to be i-torned’] from honeste as the sonne from his naturalle cowrse. 1623 Cockeram, Indeclinable, constant. 1637 R. Humfrey tr. St. Ambrose Pref., Stoicks [maintain]..the indeclinable order of things. |
† 2. That cannot be turned aside from or shunned; unavoidable, inevitable (cf. decline v. 12). Obs.
| 1658 Phillips, Indeclinable, not to be declined, or shun'd. 1660 Jer. Taylor Duct. Dubit. i. ii. rule 7 §9 For the avoiding of a greater evil which is otherwise indeclinable. |
3. Gram. Incapable of being declined grammatically; having no inflexions.
| 1530 Palsgr. Introd. 37 For the knowledge of theyr partes indeclynable remyttyng the lernar to the seconde boke. 1668 Wilkins Real Char. 353 The other Particles are not capable of Inflexion..and therefore may be stiled indeclinable or invariable. 1748 Wesley Eng. Gram. ii. 18 All Adjectives are indeclinable, having no variation either of Gender, Case, or Number. 1877 Moulton tr. Winer's N.T. Gram. ii. §10. 2 Many Hebrew proper names are treated as indeclinable in the LXX. and the N.T. |
B. as n. An indeclinable word.
| 1530 Palsgr. 370 Al numeralles of this sorte be indeclynables. 1761 Churchill Rosciad 784 [He] stands alone in indeclinables; Conjunction, preposition, adverb, join To stamp new vigour on the nervous line. 1786–1805 Tooke Purley 251 All the Indeclinables except the Adverb, we have already considered. 1897 F. Hall in Nation (N.Y.) LXIV. 396/2 As regards the hinges of language, indeclinables. |
Hence indeˈclinableness, the quality of being inevitable or irresistible.
| 1648 W. Jenkyn Blind Guide iv. 79 The invincibility, certainty, and indeclinablenesse of the worke of grace upon the will. |