Basic Details
Word: Ineffable
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.
Synonyms: Unexpressible, indescribable, inexpressible
Antonyms: Describable, expressible
Idioms and Phrases
- Ineffable joy: A joy so great that it cannot be expressed in words. Example: "Seeing her friend after many years brought her an ineffable joy that filled her heart."
- Ineffable beauty: Beauty that is beyond words to describe. Example: "The ineffable beauty of the sunset took everyones breath away."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The ineffable beauty of the mountains at sunrise left us all speechless.
Example 2: He felt an ineffable sense of wonder when he first laid eyes on the ocean.
Example 3: The musician played with an ineffable passion that moved the entire audience.
Fun Fact
The word ineffable comes from the Latin word ineffabilis, meaning that cannot be expressed, which itself comes from the verb "effari," meaning to speak out. This shows how the difficulty of expressing something can be deeply rooted in our language!
Famous Quote
"The ineffable is often all that is left of the experience." - David G. Myers
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "ineffable" mean?
a) Easy to understand
b) Too great to be expressed in words
c) Commonly known
d) Unpleasant
Answer: b) Too great to be expressed in words
2. Which of these is a synonym of "ineffable"?
a) Unexpressible
b) Simple
c) Clear
d) Brief
Answer: a) Unexpressible
3. Which of the following is an antonym of "ineffable"?
a) Unheard
b) Expressible
c) Hidden
d) Mysterious
Answer: b) Expressible
4. Which sentence uses "ineffable" correctly?
a) The ineffable song made everyone dance.
b) His ineffable mischief got him into trouble.
c) The ineffable sunset left us lost for words.
d) She felt ineffable after eating too much cake.
Answer: c) The ineffable sunset left us lost for words.
5. Which idiom refers to something that cannot be expressed?
a) As busy as a bee
b) Ineffable joy
c) An open book
d) A different kettle of fish
Answer: b) Ineffable joy
