unimaginable

UK: ˌʌnɪˈmædʒɪnəbl | US: ˌʌnɪˈmædʒɪnəbl

Definition

  1. adj. impossible to imagine or comprehend due to extreme scale, novelty, or absurdity

Structure
un <not>imagin <to form mental images>able <capable of>
Etymology

The word combines three morphemes:

  1. "un-" (Old English "un-"), a prefix negating the root.
  2. "imagin" (Latin "imaginari," meaning "to picture mentally"), the core root.
  3. "-able" (Latin "-abilis"), a suffix indicating capacity.
    Originally from Latin "imaginabilis" (capable of being imagined), the addition of "un-" flips the meaning to "beyond mental conception." The structure reflects logical progression: negation + action + potentiality.
Examples

  1. The devastation after the earthquake was unimaginable.

  2. His wealth is unimaginable to ordinary people.

  3. The concept of infinite space is unimaginable for many.

  4. She faced unimaginable hardships during the war.

  5. The technology’s potential is still unimaginable to most.