'inanimable' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'inanimabilis', where 'in-' meant 'not' and 'anima' meant 'breath, soul (life)'.

'inanimabilis' passed into Late Latin/Medieval Latin and then into French as 'inanimable', and eventually entered modern English as 'inanimable' (a rarer variant alongside 'inanimate').

Initially it meant 'not having life or soul; incapable of life or feeling', and over time it has kept that basic meaning, now used mainly as a formal or rare synonym of 'inanimate'.