unattainable
|un/at/tain/a/ble|
C1
/ˌʌnəˈteɪnəbl/
impossible to achieve
Etymology
Etymology Information
'unattainable' originates from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'attainable' from Old French 'ateindre', meaning 'to reach or achieve'.
Historical Evolution
'ateindre' transformed into the Middle English word 'attainen', and eventually became the modern English word 'attain'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to reach or achieve something', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'not able to be reached or achieved'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not able to be reached or achieved.
The summit seemed unattainable due to the harsh weather conditions.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35