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adjective

indescifrable

indecipherable

Definition & meaning

The word indescifrable is an adjective used to describe something that cannot be read, decoded, or understood. It generally carries two nuances:

  1. Inability to read or decode: This refers to physical text or signals. For example, handwriting that is so messy it cannot be seen clearly, or an encrypted message for which the key is lost.
  2. Inability to comprehend: This refers to abstract concepts, behaviors, or expressions. It describes something mysterious, obscure, or impossible to interpret, such as a person's cryptic facial expression or a very complex philosophical idea.

Grammar & Word origin

The word indescifrable functions as an adjective. In Spanish, adjectives ending in "-e" are gender-neutral, meaning the form remains the same whether it modifies a masculine or feminine noun. For example: "un código indescifrable" (masculine) or "una letra indescifrable" (feminine).

In terms of its origin, the word is formed by three parts:

  • The prefix in-, which indicates negation or the opposite.
  • The verb descifrar, which means to decipher or decode. This comes from the noun cifra, meaning digit or code.
  • The suffix -able, which denotes capability or possibility.

Therefore, the literal construction of the word is "that which is not capable of being deciphered."

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • ilegible: Used specifically when handwriting or print cannot be read.
  • ininteligible: Used when something cannot be understood or is not clear.
  • enigmático: Used when something is mysterious or like a riddle.
  • oscuro: Used metaphorically to describe something that lacks clarity or is hard to perceive.
  • misterioso: Used for something that contains a mystery.

Antonyms:

  • legible: Something that can be easily read.
  • comprensible: Something that can be understood.
  • claro: Something that is clear and evident.
  • inteligible: Something that is capable of being understood.
  • descifrable: Something that can be decoded or figured out.

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Examples

La letra de tu hermano es indescifrable.adjective

Your brother's handwriting is indecipherable.

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