inconceivable
UK: ˌɪnkənˈsiːvəbl | US: ˌɪnkənˈsiːvəbl
adj. impossible to imagine or believe
adj. beyond understanding or comprehension
The word "inconceivable" combines the prefix "in-" (meaning "not"), the root "conceive" (from Latin "concipere," meaning "to take in or form an idea"), and the suffix "-able" (indicating capability). Originally, "conceive" referred to the act of forming a mental image or becoming pregnant, but over time, it broadened to mean understanding or imagining something. Adding "in-" negates this capability, leading to the modern meaning of "unimaginable" or "unbelievable."
The idea of time travel was once considered inconceivable.
His sudden wealth seemed inconceivable to his old friends.
The scale of the disaster was inconceivable until we saw it firsthand.
To many, a world without the internet is now inconceivable.
The scientist proposed a theory so radical it seemed inconceivable at first.