undetainable
|un/de/tain/a/ble|
C1
/ˌʌndɪˈteɪnəbl/
unable to be held back
Etymology
Etymology Information
'undetainable' originates from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and the word 'detain,' which comes from Latin 'detinere,' where 'de-' meant 'away' and 'tenere' meant 'to hold.'
Historical Evolution
'detinere' transformed into the Old French word 'detenir,' and eventually became the modern English word 'detain,' with 'undetainable' forming as a negation.
Meaning Changes
Initially, 'detain' meant 'to hold back or keep in custody,' and 'undetainable' evolved to mean 'not able to be held back.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not able to be detained or held back.
The fugitive was undetainable, slipping through every trap set for him.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/02/02 19:18