unˈfordable, a.
(un-1 7 b and 5 b.)
| 1611 Florio, Inguazzabile, vnwadable, vnfoordable. 1649 Taylor Gt. Exemp. ii. §21 When he is to pass a sudden or unfordable flood. 1732 T. Lediard Sethos II. vii. 58 Their excursions..over unfordable rivers. 1834 Pringle Afr. Sk. 187 A very heavy rain..swells the river to an unfordable size. 1868 Rep. U.S. Commissioner Agric. (1869) 351 Many of the unfordable streams are still crossed by flat-boat ferries. |
| fig. a 1641 Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. (1642) 25 Many deep hidden mysteries, and unfordable. |
Hence
unˈfordableness.
| 1652 Heylyn Cosmogr. ii. 193 The unfordablenesse of the River. |