inimicable

English

Etymology

From in- +‎ amicable, after Latin inimīcus (“enemy”) from in- + amīcus, inimical. Piecewise doublet of inamiable, inamicable, unamiable, and unamicable.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪˈnɪ.mɪ.kə.bəl/

Adjective

inimicable (comparative more inimicable, superlative most inimicable)

1. (rare) Synonym of inimical (“harmful, hostile”).
   • 1805, Eugenia de Acton [pseudonym; Alethea Lewis], “Fortune Telling Concluded”, in The Nuns of the Desert; or, The Woodland Witches. […], volume I, London: […] Minerva-Press, for Lane, Newman, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 118:

     Angel incarnate!—as we have heretofore justly denominated thee—woman of virtue, piety, and truth!—guard, strictly guard every avenue to that inestimable storehouse of bliss for man—thy yet untainted heart!—let no envy of even a rival’s beauty; no malice; no hatred; no pride; no self-interest, inimicable to the felicity of others; corrupt thy purity; be, as thou wert intended by thy creator, the ornament; the glory; the fairest of his works!

Usage notes

• Not to be confused with inamicable (“unfriendly or hostile”) or inimitable (“beyond imitation”).

Derived terms

• inimicability
• inimicably