impregnable
pronunciation
How to pronounce impregnable in British English:
UK [ɪmˈpregnəbl]
How to pronounce impregnable in American English:
US [ɪmˈprɛɡnəbəl]
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- Adjective:
- able to withstand attack
- impossible to take by storm
Word Origin
- impregnable
- impregnable: see prey
- impregnable (adj.)
- early 15c., imprenable "impossible to capture," from Middle French imprenable "invulnerable," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + Old French prenable "assailable, vulnerable" (see pregnable). With intrusive -g- 16c., on model of deign, reign, etc. Related: Impregnability.
Example
- 1. A new iron curtain is being drawn around russia . It 's not so impregnable or wide as the soviet one .
- 2. Although the structure is now defunct , the mosque 's former glory lingers in the towering arched gate and the seemingly impregnable walls .
- 3. But not until 1947 did the supreme court construe this to mean that a wall between church and state " must be kept high and impregnable " .
- 4. History is littered with fallen titans , from united steel to ibm , whose leadership once seemed impregnable .
- 5. Some republicans privately concede mr obama 's position may be impregnable .